Jetliner - Swiftest link between North and South

Mega troop carrier hallmark of efficiency:

From Ranil Wijeyapala on board the Jetliner

Navy Dvoras escorting the Jetliner into the sea at Kankesanthurai harbour. Pictures by Rukmal Gamage

Pitch darkness was engulfing the entire Trincomalee harbour as the clock ticked midnight switching us to another date. Except for the rising moon and a few essential guiding lights, there was no other source of lighting to see what was going on there.

A sound akin to the humming of bees indicated that the place was fully crowded despite the darkness, but it was difficult to get an idea about the numbers. Thick darkness had covered them, except those who were exposed to the lights switched on to guide them to this specific location.

A mixture of Security Forces personnel and policemen in their uniforms were resting on their huge baggages till they got a signal to board the ship to start the voyage to Kankesanthurai.

After a weeks long vacation with their beloved ones and after waiting for days at a transit camp they were eagerly awaiting to start their voyage to Jaffna peninsula to report back to their duty.

All mechanisms were put in place at the Trincomalee harbour for this huge operation involving each and every unit of the Sri Lanka Navy and also of the Army, Air Force and the Police.

The roar of dinghies and water jets patrolling the inner harbour in the darkness gives an impression of the security sensitivity of the operation, meaning any unwanted elements infiltrating the harbour would lead to a bigger disaster.

The cafeteria serving the troops on board.

The recruits of the Army boarding the ship

The fastest unloading process in action at Kankesanthurai harbour

Women sailors on a comfortable journey on board the ship

Sailors boarding the ship in Trincomalee

So vigilance had become an essential part of this operation since this is the number one target of the LTTE to turn the tide against the Security Forces at this decisive juncture of the conflict.

First, it is time to load cargo into the ship. A certain amount of cargo is being transported in the ship to fulfil the needs of the Security Forces personnel serving in the Jaffna peninsula.

Captain Nilantha Heenatigala the Officer in Command of Jetliner is ready with his staff to signal the green light for the troops to board the vessel. It was at 12.30 a.m. that the green light was given the for the troops to board on the ship.

Shadows on the ground started to move as the Officer in Charge Loading Lieutenant D.R.A. Wimalaratne gave the green light for the troops to get in. First it was the sailors and Navy officers who started to reach the ship.

They were creeping through the darkness to reach the ship through a bridge created out of a number of dinghy boats connected together. They moved fast into the ship with their heavy baggages. But Naval Provost and Military Provosts were there to maintain discipline.

The four decks of the ship started to get crowded as a large number of soldiers and recruits were getting into the ship.

The soldiers awaiting at the China Bay transit camp are first transported in small ships to this location in the Trincomalee harbour.

Many veterans prefer to sit on the floor since they know it is convenient for them to travel sitting on the floor rather than the seats available in other decks.

The operation seems too big. “We start preparing for this mission several days ahead with the involvement of all three Forces and the Police once we feel the ship is fit for the mission,” Captain Heenatigala explained.

A preparatory meeting for the mission is held at the Trincomalee Naval Base with the participation of representatives from all three Forces and the Police. They discuss the number of personnel to be allocated to the Army, Navy and the Police.

“But priority is given for the Army to transport their troops since we have other assets to transport our sailors,” says Captain Heenatigala.

The meeting is held not only to discuss the number of personnel allocated to each Service but also to discuss the security arrangements for the troop movement with the involvement of intelligence officials.

“All three Services have to be on alert to make this effort a success to provide air, surface and underwater security,” according to Captain Heenatigala.

A fleet of Navy Dvoras are also ready for the mission to clear the path for the ship, removing all fishing trawlers in the path.

“We impose restrictions on fishing trawlers 12 hours ahead of our mission. But we still find some trawlers not adhering to our instructions.”

All the staff on board the ship, seven officers including three executive officers and 113 sailors fulfil duties in the fields of seamen, medical, supplies, logistics, marine engineering and communications services.

There was pindrop silence in the ship as it began its voyage at 3.45 a.m. after more than 3,000 Security Forces personnel boarded it. No one could feel the ship move in the darkness.

The ship crew began to retreat into their respective billets after completing their duties as another set of officials took over the navigation of the ship.

It was around 5 a.m. that we felt the swinging of the ship. A clear picture of the situation can be observed only after dawn as the ship was passing the sea off the coast of Alampil.

Sea conditions were becoming rough with ‘white horses’ appearing on the surface of the sea. “When we see white horses it predicts that the sea is going to be rough,” Lieutenant Wimalaratne says while taking us on a tour of the ship.

All the Security Forces personnel were resting on various places seeking their own comfort on seats and on the floor, some watching TV and some having meals at the canteen.

The women soldiers and sailors have a separate area to travel in. The Seva Vanitha Unit of the Sri Lanka Navy runs a cafeteria on the third deck of the ship.

“The respective Services are providing meals for the troops in the ship since it is difficult for us to provide meals for all,” Lt. Wimalaratne explained while showing us the cafeteria and the adjoining medical section on the third floor.

“Many soldiers prefer to sit on the floor as they do not feel the rolling and pitching of the ship in the rough seas,” Lt. Wimalaratne noted.

Navy officials and sailors were busy on the ‘bridge’ of the ship which is the key area to navigate the ship. They were keenly observing the radar screen to detect any threatening movements to the ship while keeping contact with the Dvoras.

Captain Heenatigala gave instructions to the Navigating Officer to take the ship into the deep seas to avoid the rough seas as the ship was passing the Mullaitivu area.

The sea waves come to the deck putting the sailors providing security for the ship in an inconvenient position. They hang on to the deck despite the sea spray thrashing on their faces.

“We are taking precautionary measures to avoid any LTTE threat,” Captain Heenatigala says while recalling the number of attempts made by the LTTE to attack the ships transporting troops.

The LTTE made a major attempt to attack the Jetliner on August 01, 2006 as it was heading towards Trincomalee harbour. Another vessel ‘Pearl Cruise II’ carrying 700 troops came under an LTTE attack on the eve of Vesak Poya in the same year, but the Navy’s support craft foiled the LTTE mission.

“The LTTE is aware that they can make a significant change in the current warfare if they can block this mission,” Captain Heenatigala added.

Now all are awake on board the vessel as it was reaching Point Pedro, the tip of the island in the Eastern edge of the Jaffna peninsula.

Troops were getting ready to disembark the ship as they saw the ship reach towards land.

“In another one hour we will be reaching our destination the Kankesanthurai harbour,” Lt. Wimalaratne says pointing his finger towards Kankesanthurai harbour.

Another fleet of Dvoras were escorting the Jetliner as it was reaching land. Two MI 24 helicopters were providing close air surveillance as the ship passed Point Pedro.

Fleets of Dvoras from the Eastern Naval Area and the Northern Naval Area escort the troop movement mission.

The ship is now getting ready for the final phase of its operation. The Security Forces personnel were busy preparing for disembarking with the huge baggages on their shoulders.

The officer in charge of loading Lt. Wimalaratne was giving instructions to sailors, while the Navigating officer was taking the ship into the harbour.

Dots in blue and green were visible on the edge of the harbour. The dots become more clear and it was a gathering of more than 3,000 Security Forces personnel on land. They are eagerly awaiting to board the vessel to go on leave after a hectic duty.

All things were ready at the Kankesanthurai harbour to unload 3,000 troops and cargo while loading another 3,000 Trincomalee bound troops.

First it was time to unload the cargo. Labourers were running with their luggage on their shoulders to fasten the process of unloading cargo. Two gates are now open from the two sides to facilitate the loading and unloading process.

“This might be the fastest loading and unloading process in the world. We complete the process within 30 minutes to commence our return journey to Trincomalee,” Captain Heenatigala added.

As the last soldier boards the ship for the return journey the ship closes its gates. Refuelling also takes place swiftly with the Navy improving all its facilities at the KKS harbour.

The Dvoras escorting the ship are first launched into the sea giving close protection to the ship. Then the ship starts the return voyage towards Trincomalee.

But the burden on the Naval personnel in the ship had not eased. They were still busy in their operation rooms and checking each and every movement of the ship till they reached its final destination.

The Commanders of the Navy, Army and the Air Force too are on alert on the movement since it is a major operation concerning all three Forces and the Police connecting the South and Jaffna at this decisive juncture of war.

It was around 9 p.m. that all of them breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed relieving a heavy burden on them as the Jetliner - the bridge connecting the South and the Jaffna peninsula safely entered the Trincomalee harbour.