Biggest since 1973: massive winter storm rocks Azores detachment

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Jan-Feb, 2002 by Kevin Burns

When the huge winter storm with waves in excess of 40 feet hit in December, the Azores detachment sprang into action.

We had all the containers taken off the chassis to prevent them from overturning. Before the winds peaked, we had moved all the containers away from the pier side to ensure the contents were not damaged. It was good that we did. A few storm-tossed rocks hit the sides of containers over 75 feet from the shore.

The storm, which peaked Dec. 20, was quite the story here. Huge, towering waves battered the Azores and caused damage to our port area. For the first time since 1973, a part of the breakwater collapsed. The breakwater protecting the military port complex on the island of Terceira is comprised of massive concrete tetrapods, each weighing 38,200 pounds. Some of these tetrapods were moved up to 100 feet by the wave action.

Operations at the commercial port were impacted by the storm and the breach of the breakwater in three locations. The pier area lost about 10 percent of its area due to the waves. The retaining wall there, comprised of concrete three-foot thick and about 40 feet from the ocean, collapsed in at least two places. Consequently, there was little protection from subsequent waves.

Ships were not able to enter the harbor. The tanker Mormacstar was due in port on Dec. 20 but delayed until Jan. 1. Port officials were forced to relocate several hundred containers. Fortunately for the Azores community, the pre-Christmas timing of the storm meant scheduled shipping activity was light.

Ships were able to reuse the port again by Christmas Day. One of the first ships to enter port was the Strong Patriot, our resupply ship which carded MTMC cargo from the United States. The weather was still rough with winds of 55 mph and rain but we completed cargo operations in 10 hours and kept the ship on schedule.

Repairs at the port will take at least two years and are estimated at $6 million. The impact on residential areas was limited. About 20 coastal homes were affected -- some had first-floor flooding. Most of those residents went to stay with friends or relatives. In the case of American military personnel, they moved on to the installation.

The impact on operations here at the detachment was minimal. We are well versed in operations under adverse weather conditions. If we do not provide regular refresher courses Mother Nature does it for us. As I write this article, this very mild winter day with winds only reaching 75 mph, there was a weather-related incident at the base. A driver neglected to secure an aircraft pallet on a trailer. The wind caught and flipped the pallet over. The weight of that pallet and cargo is about four tons. No one was hurt, however the cargo of lettuce and milk suffered some loss.

I believe that I was actually one of the few who suffered an economic loss in the storm. On my way to work Dec. 21, a tire on my car struck a storm-tossed rock and caused a puncture. It is not fun to change a tire in an 80-knot wind.

A military terminal unit has been in the Azores since 1952. At one time the port had a staff of more than 200. With the introduction of the efficiencies and economies of shipping containers, the mission is conducted today with a staff of 14.