Although the US Navy has sent a virtual ‘armada' to Haiti to deal with the earthquake crisis a unit of the Dutch Navy, the Logistic Support Vessel (LSV) HNLMS  Pelikaan (A804), actually became the first ship to unload relief supplies within Port-au-Prince harbour.

Completed by Holland's Damen Shipyard specifically to carry troops and equipment between Dutch possessions in the Caribbean, the 65.4m by 13.2m vessel was a perfect fit to berth at a hastily repaired section of the port's heavily damaged South Pier and was able to unloading supplies with its own 25-tonne deck crane.

Other navies sending units to Haiti include: Canada, with HMCS Halifax (FFH 330) and HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282); Italy with MMI Cavour (550); France with FNS Siroco (L 9012) and FNS Francis Garnier (L 9031); Great Britian with RFA Largs Bay; Colombia with ARC Cartagena; Mexico with Hospital ship Huasteco and ARM Papaloapan; and Spain with SNS Castilla (L52). Venezuela and Brazil had also signaled their intention to send ships.