KAVALA, GREECE – April 29, 2025 – American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) marked another milestone as M/V Endurance arrived at the port of Kavala, Greece, delivering U.S. Army vehicles in support of DEFENDER 25.

DEFENDER 25 is the U.S. Army’s largest annual security cooperation and exercise in Europe, aimed at enhancing NATO deterrence and readiness. This year, nearly 12,000 U.S. service members, alongside 13,000 troops from 29 NATO and partner nations, are participating, with Greece playing a key role. Notably, DEFENDER 25 marks the inaugural deployment of U.S. Army forces via the Port of Kavala, facilitating the reception, staging, and onward movement (RSOM) of troops and equipment onward to Czechia.

DEFENDER 25 involves a series of exercises designed to demonstrate the U.S. Army’s ability to respond and sustain operations of continental-based divisions, enablers, and joint forces. It also rehearses the integration of U.S. troops with NATO allies and partners for large-scale combat operations from the High North to the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

Personnel from the 839^th Transportation Battalion oversaw the offloading of U.S. Army vehicles from the U.S.-flagged cargo vessel M/V Endurance, marking a successful operation at Kavala. The Army vehicles were securely loaded in Charleston, SC, and transported across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea to Greece, demonstrating ARC’s commitment to providing reliable logistical solutions that support the readiness of essential military assets.

“This is truly a historic event. Not only is this the first time the U.S. Army has conducted deployment operations here, but this is the largest vessel to ever berth at the port of Kavala,” said Lt. Col. Michael S. Harrell, 839^th Transportation Battalion commander. “The 839^th Transportation Battalion couldn’t be happier than to enable dynamic force employment across Europe and we’re exceptionally proud to do it while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our Greek allies.”

About ARC

ARC provides government services including global logistics and shipping services. ARC and its U.S. affiliates own and manage the largest U.S.-flag Ro-Ro fleet. This includes providing American-owned, managed, and crewed Ro-Ro shipping and intermodal services committed to the requirements of the Department of Defense, other U.S. Government departments and agencies, and commercial customers.