2015-08-25 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Seabees and Sailors assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalions (PHIBCB) 1 and 2 along with other Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2 commands are constructing the Elevated Causeway System-Modular (ELCAS-M) on Anzio Beach at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek/Fort Story through September 2015.
The ELCAS system is a modular pier which can be built to a length extending up to 3,000 feet and can be assembled where port facilities are damaged or non-existent to provide logistics support to joint forces after an amphibious assault of an enemy beach or while conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Active and Reserve Component Seabees from PHIBCB 2 and PHIBCB 1 will be constructing 480 feet of ELCAS pier at Anzio beaches 2 and 3 during the training event.
A Tool for Amphibious Operations: The Elevated Causeway from SldInfo.com on Vimeo.
Starting in July, PHIBCB 2 began the embarkation and site preparation phase of the ELCAS operation.
Following embarkation and site preparation, construction of the ELCAS pier will take place in August with crews working ten-hour daily shifts, seven days-a-week until the build is completed.
Throughput operations, the offloading of vehicles, equipment, and containers from water craft onto the pier head and then transporting the cargo via trucks down the pier and over the beach, is slated to take place at the end of August/early September.
Upon completion of throughput operations and following the Labor Day holiday, disassembly of the ELCAS pier and retrograde of the system will take place throughout the month of September.
The ELCAS has not been built since 2011.
Credit: 2nd Expeditionary Strike Group, 8/15/15