The Beaumont Reserve Fleet, was established by act of Congress in 1946, as a component of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF). The fleet is located in Beaumont, Texas. [1]
The Beaumont Reserve Fleet, was established by act of Congress in 1946, as a component of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF). The fleet is located in Beaumont, Texas. [1]
In 1946, the US Government excavated 24 million cubic yards of soil from the Neches River, southeast of Beaumont, to create the McFadden Bend Cutoff. This is the location of the fleet. The Neches River connects to Sabine Lake and then the Gulf of Mexico. [2]
The Beaumont Reserve Fleet is one of only three remaining National Defense Reserve Fleets, of the original eight NDRFs, and the only anchorage on the Gulf Coast. The fleet is maintained by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), an agency of the Department of Transportation (DOT). [3] [4]
The other Reserve Fleets are the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet inland from San Francisco Bay and the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia.
As of 30 April 2024 [update] :
| Name | Division | Hull No. | Year Built | Design | Home Port | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RRF - Roll-On/Roll-Off | ||||||
| Cape Taylor | Gulf | AKR 113 | 1977 | Dsl/Japan | Port of Beaumont, TX | RRF |
| Cape Texas | Gulf | AKR 112 | 1977 | Dsl/Germany | Port of Beaumont, TX | RRF |
| Cape Trinity | Gulf | AKR 9711 | 1977 | Dsl/Germany | Port of Beaumont, TX | RRF |
| Cape Victory | Gulf | AKR 9701 | 1984 | Dsl/Italy | BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TX | RRF |
| Cape Vincent | Gulf | AKR 9666 | 1984 | Dsl/Italy | BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TX | RRF |
| Pollux | Gulf | T-AKR 290 | 1973 | Navy Cargo | BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TX | RRF |
| Regulus | Gulf | T-AKR 292 | 1972 | Navy Cargo | BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TX | RRF |
| Retention - Barge Ship | ||||||
| Cape May | Gulf | AKR 5063 | 1973 | C8-S-82a | BRF, Beaumont, TX | Militarily Useful |
| Cape Mohican | Gulf | AKR 5065 | 1973 | C8-S-82a | BRF, Beaumont, TX | Militarily Useful |
| Retention - Public Nautical School Ship | ||||||
| General Rudder | Atlantic | T-AGOS 2 | 1984 | AGOS-1 | BRF, Beaumont, TX | School Ship |
| Non-retention - Crane Ship | ||||||
| Diamond State | Gulf | T-ACS 7 | 1960 | C6-S-MA1xb | BRF, Beaumont, TX | Disposal |
| Non-retention - Roll-On/Roll-Off | ||||||
| Shughart | Gulf | T-AKR 295 | 1996 | LMSR | BRF, Beaumont, TX | Disposal |
| Yano | Gulf | T-AKR 297 | 1996 | LMSR | BRF, Beaumont, TX | Disposal |
"National Defense Reserve Fleet Archive (month-to-month NDRF vessel list)". U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. June 3, 2024. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2024.