Forces ship out supplies to troops in Chad

Some 2,700 tonnes of equipment, 100 vehicles and trailers and enough food and water for 400 people for four months will be shipped out to Chad by the Irish Defence Forces tonight.

In the largest logistical move ever undertaken by the Forces, weapons, armoured vehicles, ammunition, beds, air conditioning, toilets, a doctor’s surgery, photocopiers, and night vision equipment will set sail from Dublin Port.

The cargo includes everything the troops serving with the EUFOR Chad/CAR mission need to live and operate for four months.

More than 175 containers will be loaded onto the MV ZERAN at the North Quays, Dublin Port, throughout the day.

Most of the equipment has already arrived at Dublin Port, however motorists will see a convoy moving from the Curragh, Co Kildare to the North Quays, Dublin Port along the N7-M50-Port Tunnel between 6am and 8am this morning.

Empty military container vehicles will then move from the port back to the Curragh.

A spokesman for the Defence Forces said the equipment is for the main body of 372 soldiers of the 97 Infantry Battalion, with equipment for the Army Ranger Wing already deployed in February by air.

“It is expected the MV ZERAN will sail overnight to The Netherlands and embark vehicles and equipment for 60 Dutch Marines that will work with our troops in Chad,” he said.

“Following this, the ship will sail to Douala, Cameroon for disembarkation of equipment.”

The vessel is expected to arrive in Cameroon between April 11-13. The equipment will then be moved overland approximately 2,500 kilometres to the battalion campsite at Goz Beida in southeastern Chad where a small village will be constructed.