The Challenges of the $230 Million Floating Pier for Gaza Aid Deliveries
The $230 million floating pier built by the US military for seaborne humanitarian deliveries to Gaza has faced numerous challenges since its inauguration on May 17. The Guardian reported that the pier has only been operational for 12 days, despite the initial promise of enabling a massive increase in humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
Construction of the floating dock and pier took over two months and involved around 1,000 soldiers, sailors, and several ships, including the Royal Navy’s landing ship, Cardigan Bay. Since its launch, the pier has facilitated the delivery of approximately 250 truckloads of aid, amounting to 4,100 tonnes of supplies. However, this is less than half of the pre-war daily deliveries to Gaza, as aid often remains on the beach due to a lack of trucks for distribution.
One of the unexpected challenges faced by the floating pier is rough seas in the eastern Mediterranean, which have rendered the joint logistics over-the-shore system less effective than anticipated. The structure was designed to operate in sea conditions up to “sea state 3,” but sustained damage during a storm on May 25 and has faced unseasonably choppy waters since then.
Despite repairs and resuming operations on June 8, the pier has faced further interruptions and was dismantled again on June 14 as a precaution against impending storms. There are reports suggesting that the pier’s vulnerability to weather might lead to an early dismantling, possibly as soon as next month.
“They just miscalculated,” said Stephen Morrison, a senior vice-president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “They didn’t fully understand what was going to happen with the weather … so the DoD [Department of Defence] walks away, humiliated in a fashion.”
While acknowledging the difficulties, the Pentagon has not confirmed plans for an early termination of the mission. Chief spokesperson Maj Gen Patrick Ryder stated, “We have not established an end date for this mission as of now, contrary to some press reporting on the matter.”
The floating pier was intended to provide an alternative means of delivering aid to Gaza, bypassing Israeli land restrictions. However, aid workers have expressed concerns that the significant resources invested in the effort detract from political pressure on Israel to open land crossings, which remain the most effective way to deliver aid.
Ziad Issa, head of policy and research at Action Aid, noted a decline in aid deliveries to Gaza, with fewer than 100 trucks arriving daily in early June. The severe security conditions have hindered aid distribution in Gaza, with the Rafah crossing from Egypt closed since May 7 and the Keren Shalom crossing in southern Israel proving dangerous due to the volatile situation.
“It’s unsafe for aid workers and trucks to move because of the ongoing bombardments on Gaza,” Issa told The Guardian. While Israel announced a “tactical pause” last week to allow an aid corridor through southern Gaza, Issa stated, “We haven’t seen any difference since these tactical pauses have come in place.”
The challenges faced by the floating pier highlight the complexities of delivering aid to Gaza amidst security concerns and unpredictable weather conditions. As efforts continue to overcome these obstacles, it remains crucial to prioritize humanitarian assistance to those in need in Gaza.