spoiler
In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - discusses the planned deployment of the Joint Logistics Over The Shore capability to Gaza to construct a pier to aid in the flow of aid into the region.
00:00 Introduction
03:59 Geography of Gaza
06:10 First shipments by sea
07:24 Joint Logistics Over The Shore JLOTS
09:10 Floating Pier
13:05 Pier Options Ashore
16:48 Ship to Shore Connectors
23:03 Historical Examples - WWII & Vietnam
25:09 Where Are Marine, Navy & Army Assets
27:37 Conclusion
Some good supplemental overview from a merchant mariner who has done this kind of pier system before.
I like that his bias seems to mostly be with unionised sailors. His geopolitical coverage is usually pretty critical of the US within the limited scope of the channel and he doesn't otherwise stan for one country/region in particular. By being industry-focused he was one of the first indications I saw that the Houthi attacks were working because he's coming at it from an insurance rate and throughput perspective. I haven't seen him list his politics but I get vaguely radlib vibes.
edit: He also seems to think that Hamas poses the only security risk to the ship despite the IOF already bombing a US Navy ship without consequences. When the Israelis bomb these ships in two months, I'm going to be very pedantic about his response. He hasn't otherwise said anything Zionist-adjacent and that could be reflecting that the Israelis let the airdrop campaign happen, but it immediately stood out to me that a maritime historian knows about the USS Liberty and should hate the Israeli military for entirely different reasons.