The new logistics facility at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Crete, significantly boosts the US Navy’s operational capabilities in the Mediterranean. According to Stars and Stripes the 14,000 square-foot warehouse, inaugurated last week at the NATO Marathi Pier Complex, provides critical infrastructure for storage, including refrigerated and freezer spaces previously unavailable, as noted by Paul Cage, spokesman for Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Europe, Africa, Central. Construction, which started in fall 2021, was finalized in January 2025 and included a hazardous materials storage canopy and an above-ground water tank with a pump house.
NSA Souda Bay, strategically located in the eastern Mediterranean, supports a range of naval operations with its deep-water pier, refueling services, and an airfield shared with the Greek air force and a civilian airport. The base hosts approximately 1,000 personnel, including active-duty service members, Defense Department civilians, contractors, local workers, and families. The facility has proven vital for recent operations, such as the repair of the USS Harry S. Truman after its February 12, 2025, collision near the Suez Canal, enabling its return to Red Sea airstrike missions against Houthi militants.
Beyond the Truman, Souda Bay has supported port visits from ships like the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Wasp for resupply and maintenance. The base also serves as the homeport for the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, which recently returned to Norfolk, Virginia, for maintenance and is slated to resume operations in fall 2026. The new warehouse strengthens Souda Bay’s role as a logistics hub, ensuring better preparedness for visiting vessels and sustained regional operations.