NORFOLK, Va. — The U.S. military has finished building a temporary pier to bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, a spokesperson for the Defense Department (DoD) confirmed Thursday.
During a news conference, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary, said he expected the pier to be put into position quickly, but delivery hasn't started yet.
According to the DoD, the project involves an approximately 1,800-foot causeway comprised of modular sections linked together, known as a Trident Pier. There will also be a roll-on, roll-off discharge facility about three miles off Gaza's shore, enabling cargo ships to offload aid shipments at sea before being transported to shore.
RELATED: Military construction underway on temporary pier, causeway to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza
The hope is to initially deliver 90 truckloads of international aid into Gaza and eventually deliver up to 150 truckloads once fully operational.
The mission is being conducted by the 7th Transportation Brigade from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Newport News, along with sailors from Naval Beach Group 1 at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California.
Reuters reports that the U.S. military's cost to build a pier has risen to $320 million — roughly double the initial estimates earlier this year.
