US Ammo ships not welcome in Cork Harbour

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday August 02, 2002 14:09 by John Jefferies - The Workers' Party (Cork) wpcork at eircom dot net Thomas Ashe Hall, 15 Fr. Mathew Quay, Cork

Two massive ships carrying ammunition and spare parts for US war effort due in Cobh.

WORKERS’ PARTY CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO BAN US AMMO SHIPS FROM CORK HARBOUR

The Workers’ Party has called on the government to ban the forthcoming visit of two US military supply ships to Cork Harbour.

Cork North Central Workers’ Party spokesman Ted Tynan said that the ships in question, the USNS Lt. Harry L. Martin and USS Eugene A. Obregon are carrying military hardware and ammunition which is likely to be used in the widely expected US military attack on Iraq. They are due in Cóbh on 29th August.

“These are two huge military cargo ships. Officially they are referred to as Military Sealift Command pre-positioning ships which can supply warships in the field of battle with ammunition, spare parts and other equipment for up to 30 days”.

“If the government is in the least bit serious about Irish neutrality then it must ban these two ammunition ships from Irish territorial waters and ports. Otherwise Cork will become a supply port for the invasion of a sovereign state”, said Mr. Tynan.

“Wthe overflight and refuelling facilities for US military aircraft at Shannon Airport and the use of Cork Harbour as a military base, Ireland cannot be considered neutral by any yardstick. If these facilities continue to be offered then Ireland will become an active participant in war on Iraq”, the Workers’ Party spokesman stated.

ends.

Information on the two ships in question.

PFC Eugene A. Obregon (AK 3006) Length 826ft. Beam 106ft. Full displacement weight 51612 tons.

USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin (AK-3015) Length 754ft. Beam 106ft. Full displacement 51531 tons.

(i.e. both of these ships are almost as large as the Titanic!!! – length 883ft, Beam 93ft , 46,328tons)