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Delivered as SS ALMERIA LYKES to Lykes Bros Steamship Company in 1972, the ship was purchased by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) in July 1986, and renamed SS CAPE MAY (T-AKR 5063). Assigned to Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force, the CAPE MAY can be fully activated within 5 days if required.
The CAPE MAY is a SEABEE (Sea Barge) ship. These ships were designed to carry loaded barges instead of only the cargo itself. The idea behind it was to reduce loading times since the carrier ship only had to load or unload its barges. Loading is done using the ships 2000-ton-capacity stern elevator. Under ideal conditions this process takes only 13 hours. A similar design were the LASH (lighter aboard ships) ships [see Cape F - class LASH ships]. However, the LASH ships use smaller barges but carry more of them. Loading aboard the LASH ships is done using the ship's 405-ton-capacity gantry crane.
General Characteristics: | Awarded: October 31, 1968 |
Keel laid: March 3, 1971 | |
Launched: February 27, 1972 | |
Delivered: September 26, 1972 | |
Purchased by MARAD: September 13, 1986 | |
Builder: General Dynamics Shipyard, Quincy, Mass. | |
Propulsion system: boilers and two steam turbines | |
Propellers: one | |
Length: 873 feet (266 meters) | |
Beam: 105 feet (32 meters) | |
Draft: 39 feet (11.9 meters) | |
Displacement: approx. 57,290 long tons full load | |
Speed: 16+ knots | |
Aircraft: none but area between deckhouse and smokestacks may be used as landing platform | |
Armament: none | |
Capacity: 38 barges | |
Crew: 36 (when activated) | |
Homeport: Norfolk, Va. |
Crew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard SS CAPE MAY. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
SS CAPE MAY Image Gallery:
The photos below were taken by me and show the CAPE MAY berthed at Norfolk, Va., on November 9, 2008.