RoRo ship Patriot with U.S. military equipment docks in Eemshaven

The Ro-Ro ship Patriot, carrying American military equipment as part of the Atlantic Resolve operation, arrived in Eemshaven early Wednesday morning. The ship had previously docked in Vlissingen to offload additional equipment.

The Netherlands is supporting the military operation Host Nation Support, which involves the secure transport of military equipment to Eastern Europe. The operation includes the shipment of approximately 2,000 containers, armoured vehicles, and wheeled vehicles.

The equipment will be transported from Eemshaven to Poland via Germany, utilizing a combination of road and rail transport. Approximately 30-50 truckloads per day will be transported by road, escorted by the Royal Marechaussee. Additionally, multiple trainloads of equipment will be transported by rail.

Operation as a test

This operation marks the first time that military equipment has been simultaneously delivered through two ports: Vlissingen and Eemshaven. The Dutch Ministry of Defence views this as a test of the country’s ability to rapidly deploy military units if necessary.

The Dutch military has secured dedicated port areas in both Eemshaven and Vlissingen to facilitate the efficient handling and transportation of the equipment.

NATO countries routinely transport military personnel and equipment through the Netherlands to other European countries. Between now and November 18, a significant movement of American military containers and vehicles will take place. These will be transported by rail and road through Germany to Poland. Civilian companies will handle the road transport, while some wheeled vehicles will be convoyed from Eemshaven to Germany.

Military units

The United States is transporting military equipment to Poland to facilitate the rotation of its 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team. This armoured unit, part of the 1st Armored Division, is stationed in Poland and undergoes regular rotations. The entire operation is expected to conclude by November 22, with approximately 300 Dutch and 300 American soldiers involved in the process.

This article was originally published in Dutch on PCJ sister website NT.nl