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USS Carr Conducts Brief Stop for Fuel in Cartagena, Colombia

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120725-13
7/25/2012

By Ensign Joshua J. Stewart, USS Carr Public Affairs

CARTAGENA, Colombia (NNS) -- Guided missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) anchored in Cartagena, Colombia for a brief stop for fuel July 21.

Carr anchored in the Bay of Cartagena following three weeks at sea conducting operations to counter transnational organized crime in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. During the brief stop, Carr received 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 6,654 pounds of frozen meat and vegetables, and fresh fruits - enough to support the crew for 21 days at sea.

While brief stops for fuel are more time consuming than refueling at sea, they allow interaction and relationship building between U.S. Sailors and representatives from other countries.

Although only a brief stop for fuel, Carr participated in Project Handclasp by working with Colombian representatives to load two large pallets of materials for delivery to Acción Social, a non-profit company that provides humanitarian relief in Cartagena. In addition to needed medical supplies, the Carr delivered 200 stuffed animals for the children in Cartagena.

"One of the most satisfying parts of my experience in the Navy is to be able to support the needs of others, whether deployed or back in the United States. I am looking for the opportunity to work together on a future community relations project." said Lt. Brenda Beznoska.

Carr plans to participate in Project Handclasp events throughout her deployment. Earlier in the deployment she received several pallets of material from USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2), which is also operating in the C4F AOR.

Carr is homeported in Norfolk, Va., and is currently deployed in support of Operation Martillo, under operational control to U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and C4F (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) while conducting CTOC operations in support of Joint Interagency Task Force - South, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), and U.S. Coast Guard District Seven.

Operation Martillo (Spanish for 'hammer') is a U.S., European, and Western Hemisphere partner nation effort targeting illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus. This joint service, interagency, and multinational operation is being led by Joint Interagency Task Force-South, a National Task Force charged with detection, monitoring, and supporting the interdiction of illicit trafficking in a 42 million square mile area primarily in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of operations. Operation Martillo is a component of the U.S. government's coordinated interagency regional security strategy in support of the White House strategy to combat transnational organized crime and the U.S. Central America Regional Security Initiative.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports USSOUTHCOM joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.