Vertical replenishment

The United States Department of Defense defines VERTREP as: ...the transfer of cargo between ships using helicopters.

[3] Modern United States Navy VERTREP procedures were initiated from USS Sacramento in November 1964.

One Cold War VERTREP was accomplished while the receiving United States destroyer maintained contact with a Soviet submarine.

[7] Pre-loading of pallets is necessary for rapid transfer, and requires advance knowledge of weather conditions and special care to secure light items which may otherwise be blown out of containers.

While popular in use, VERTREP is considered relatively dangerous (as compared to other replenishment methods) as it involves danger to the loading personnel due to the helicopter and the load, and in turn, potential risks to the helicopter due to Foreign Object Damage (FOD).

A SH-60 Sea Hawk delivers cargo to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington
A CMV-22 Osprey land on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz
Forklifts prepare to receive cargo from an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter during a vertical replenishment on board the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)