SS Denebola (T-AKR-289)

Last updated

USNS Denebola (T-AKR-289).JPEG
USNS Denebola (T-AKR-289) in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 7 February 1994.
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameSS Denebola
Namesake Denebola
Owner United States Maritime Administration
Operator Keystone Shipping Company
Port of registry Norfolk, VA
BuilderRotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V
Launched1 November 1973
Acquired27 October 1981
Identification
Honors and
awards
Status Ready Reserve in Boston, Massachusetts
General characteristics
Class and type Algol-class vehicle cargo ship
Displacement55,355 tons (full)
Length946 ft 2 in (288 m)
Beam105 ft 6 in (32 m)
Draft36 ft 4 in (11 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Foster-Wheeler boilers, 875  psi (6,030  kPa)
  • 2 × GE MST-19 steam turbines; 120,000  hp (89,000  kW)
Speed33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Capacity700+ military vehicles (including trucks, tanks, and helicopters)
Complement43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational), 18 civilians (reduced operating status)
Aviation facilitiesLanding pad

SS Denebola (T-AKR 289) is an Algol-class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high speed container ship by Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V. in Rotterdam, Netherlands, hull no. 332, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. and named SS Sea-Land Resource, USCG ON 550723, IMO 7325253. [1] [2] Due to her high operating cost, she was sold to the United States Navy in October 1981 as USNS Denebola (T-AK-289). [3]

Contents

In keeping with the pattern of the naming the Algol-class ships after bright stars, the Denebola was named after Denebola, the third-brightest star in the constellation Leo.

Conversion

Conversion began on 22 November 1983 at Pennsylvania Shipbuilding in Chester, Pennsylvania. Her cargo hold was redesigned into a series of decks connected by ramps so vehicles can be driven into and out of the cargo hold for fast loading and unloading. She was also fitted with two sets of two cranes; one set located at midship capable of lifting 35 tons, and another set located aft capable of lifting 50 tons. [2] She was delivered to the Military Sealift Command on 10 October 1985 as USNS Denebola (T-AKR 289). [4]

Service

When not active, Denebola is kept in reduced operating status due to her high operating cost. If needed, she can be activated and ready to sail in 96 hours. [5] Denebola took part in the Persian Gulf War in 1990. Along with the other seven Algol class cargo ships, she transported 14 percent of all cargo delivered between the United States and Saudi Arabia during and after the war. [6] In 1994, Denebola, along with USNS Capella (T-AKR-293), worked with NATO forces on convoy exercises in the Mediterranean. [6]

On 1 October 2007, Denebola was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration. On 1 October 2008, she was transferred to the Ready Reserve Force, losing her USNS designation. [6] [7] If activated, Denebola will report to the Military Sealift Command and change her prefix designation from SS to USNS. [3]

Together with sistership SS Antares, Denebola resided in Baltimore harbor for many years. In July 2024, she departed Baltimore harbor bound for a scrapyard in Beaumont, Texas, to be recycled. [8]

Citations

U.S. Coast Guard District 5 Local Notice to Mariners Week 49/20 8 DEC 20, at page 25

  1. ↑ Cudahay 206 p. 265
  2. 1 2 USNS Denebola (T-AKR 289) , retrieved 7 April 2009
  3. 1 2 Ready Reserve Force Ships , retrieved 7 April 2009
  4. ↑ Service Ship Photo Archive: SS Denebola (AKR-289) , retrieved 7 April 2009
  5. ↑ Cargo – Fast Sealift – Support (FSS), Specialized, archived from the original on 14 May 2011, retrieved 5 April 2009
  6. 1 2 3 'U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command: Fact Sheet', December 2003, retrieved 7 April 2009
  7. ↑ Fast Sealift Ships – T-AKR, 22 January 2008, retrieved 7 April 2009
  8. ↑ "Naval vessel that experienced steering issue near Bay Bridge inspected, back on its way". Baltimore Sun. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strategic sealift ships</span> United States military ship category

Strategic sealift ships are part of the United States Military Sealift Command's (MSC) prepositioning program. There are currently 17 ships in the program, strategically positioned around the world to support the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency. Most are named after Medal of Honor recipients from the service they support. The ships are assigned to two Military Prepositioning Ship (MPS) squadrons located in the Indian Ocean at Diego Garcia and in the Western Pacific Ocean at Guam and Saipan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Sealift Command</span> United States Navy command for logistics

The Military Sealift Command (MSC) is an organization that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy. Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all US military services as well as for other government agencies. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's ocean transport needs. The MSTS was renamed the Military Sealift Command in 1970.

<i>Algol</i>-class vehicle cargo ship Ship class

The Algol-class vehicle cargo ships, also known as Fast Sealift Ships (FSS) or SL-7s, are currently the fastest conventional steam powered cargo ships in the world that are still (intermittently) operating, capable of speeds in excess of 33 knots (61 km/h).. Although in reality both are laid up due to their high operating costs and less than green credentials in terms of fuel burned in transporting one unit of cargo per nautical miles traveled. Originally built in 1972 and 1973 as high-speed container ships known as SL-7s for SeaLand, the ships' high operating costs limited their profitability. All eight ships were acquired by the United States Navy in 1981 and 1982, with the last ship converted, delivered to and placed in service with Military Sealift Command in 1986. The conversion entailed the installation of four cranes, addition of roll on/roll off capability and a redesign of the cargo hold to better facilitate storage of vehicles. Due largely to their high cost of operation, all fast sealift ships are kept in Reduced Operating Status, but can be activated and ready to sail in 96 hours. All ships are named after bright stars in the night sky.

MV <i>Shughart</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

MV Shughart (T-AKR-295) is the lead ship of her class of cargo ships operated by the United States Navy. She is a 'roll-on roll-off' non-combat vessel designated as a "Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off" (LMSR) ship.

USNS <i>Comet</i> US vehicle landing ship

USNS Comet (T-AK-269), later T-LSV-7, later T-AKR-7, later SS Comet, was a vehicle landing ship built for the United States Navy. The lone ship of her class, she was named for the comet, and was the fourth U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USNS <i>Sea Lift</i>

USNS Sea Lift (T-LSV-9) was a roll on/roll off (Ro/Ro) cargo ship built for the United States Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), currently the Military Sealift Command (MSC). She became the first ship of Ro/Ro-type to deliver cargo to Vietnam during the war in Indochina.

SS <i>Algol</i> American cargo ship

SS Algol is an Algol-class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force. She was built as a high speed container ship by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij N.V. in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, hull no. 331, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. and named SS Sea-Land Exchange, USCG ON 546383, IMO 7303205. Due to her high operating cost, Sea-Land Exchange was sold to the United States Navy in October 1981 as USNS Algol (T-AK-287).

SS <i>Bellatrix</i>

SS Bellatrix is an Algol-class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high-speed container ship by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany, hull no. 430, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. and named SS Sea-Land Trade, USCG ON 545201, IMO 7236153. Due to her high operating cost, Sea-Land Trade was sold to the United States Navy in October 1981 as USNS Bellatrix (T-AK-288).

USNS <i>Pollux</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USNS Pollux (T-AK-290), later T-AKR-290, the fourth United States Navy ship of the name, is an Algol-class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) as SS Pollux (T-AKR-290).

SS <i>Altair</i>

SS Altair is an Algol class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high speed container ship by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke in Emden, West Germany, hull no. 431, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. and named SS Sea-Land Finance, USCG ON 550722, IMO 7315571. Due to her high operating cost, she was sold to the United States Navy on 5 January 1982 as USNS Altair (T-AK-291).

SS <i>Regulus</i> (T-AKR-292) US Navy Algol class cargo ship launched 1973

SS Regulus is an Algol class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high-speed container ship by A.G. Weser in Bremen, West Germany, hull no. 1383, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. and named SS Sea-Land Commerce, USCG 545200, IMO 7302897. Due to her high operating cost, she was sold to the United States Navy on 27 October 1981 as USNS Regulus (T-AK-292).

SS <i>Capella</i> US Navy Algol class cargo ship launched 1972

SS Capella is an Algol class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high speed container ship by Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V. in Rotterdam, Netherlands, hull no. 330, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. and named SS Sea-Land McLean, USCG ON 540413, IMO 7223508, after Sea-Land's founder Malcom McLean. Due to her high operating cost, she was sold to the United States Navy on 16 April 1982 as USNS Capella (T-AK-293).

SS <i>Antares</i> US Navy Algol class cargo ship launched 1972

SS Antares is an Algol class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high speed container ship by A.G. Weser in Bremen, West Germany, hull no. 1382, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. Baptized in Bremerhaven by Helga Wedekind, the ship was named SS Sea-Land Galloway, USCG ON 542200, IMO 7226897. Due to her high operating cost, she was sold to the United States Navy on 16 April 1982 as USNS Antares (T-AK-294).

MV <i>Gary I. Gordon</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

MV Gary I. Gordon, formerly USNS Gordon (T-AKR-296), is a Gordon-class roll on roll off vehicle cargo ship of the United States Navy. She was originally built as a merchant vessel, acquired and converted by the Navy, and was assigned to the United States Department of Defense's Military Sealift Command. As of April 2023, the ship was part of the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) Ready Reserve Force (RRF).

MV <i>Charles L. Gilliland</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

MV Charles L. Gilliland, formerly USNS Gilliland (T-AKR-298), is a Gordon-class roll on roll off vehicle cargo ship of the United States Navy. She was originally built as a merchant vessel but later acquired and converted by the Navy, and assigned to the United States Department of Defense's Military Sealift Command. Gilliland was built in 1972 as MV Selandia. After some time spent in commercial service she was lengthened by Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1984, and later went on to be acquired by the US Navy under a long term charter. She was converted to a US Navy Vehicle Roll-on/Roll-off Ship at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia, in a contract dated 23 May 1997 and on completion was assigned to the Military Sealift Command under the name USNS Gilliland, after Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Charles L. Gilliland. Gilliland is one of 28 Strategic Sealift Ships operated by the Military Sealift Command. She was assigned to the MSC Atlantic surge force, and is maintained in Ready Operational Status 4.

The Type C7 ship(Lancer Class) is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) designation for a cargo ship and the first US purpose-built container ship. The vessels were constructed in US shipyards and entered service starting in 1968. As US-built ships they were Jones Act qualified for shipments between US domestic ports. Under the Jones Act, domestic US maritime trade is restricted to US-built and flagged vessels of US owners and crewed by predominantly US-citizens. The last active Lancer container-configured ship was scrapped in 2019. Lancers of the vehicle Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) configuration remain held in the Ready Reserve Force, National Defense Reserve Fleet and the US Navy Military Sealift Command. All are steam powered.

MV <i>Cape Texas</i> (T-AKR-112)

For MV Cape Texas, a World War II Type C1-A, see Type C1 ships

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.