SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051)

SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) is a Cape G Class Break bulk cargo ship of the United States Maritime Administration, last used as a training ship at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Currently she is part of the Beaumont Reserve Fleet.

Former Merchant Marine Academy flagship SS Cape Gibson, ex-SSIndian Mail.
History
United States
Name: SS Indian Mail, later changed to SS President Jackson
Owner: American Mail Lines, then sold to American President Lines
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia
Yard number: 588[1]
Way number: 517717
Acquired: 13 December 1968
Homeport: Seattle, Washington
Identification:
Fate: Transferred to MARAD, placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Alameda, California.
United States
Name: T.S. Texas Clipper IV
Owner: United States Maritime Administration
Operator: Texas A&M University at Galveston
In service: 19 October 2009
Out of service: 2012
Homeport: Galveston, Texas
Status: designated for disposal
General characteristics
Class and type: Breakbulk cargo ship, Training Ship
Displacement: 9,779 tons light, 31,995 tons fully loaded
Length: 605 ft (184 m)
Beam: 82 ft (25 m)
Draft: 35 ft (11 m)
Installed power: 24,000 shp at 105 rpm
Propulsion: Single steam turbine, two boilers, single propellor
Speed: 11 kt cruise
Capacity: 22,216 DWT
Crew: 32

History

The ship was originally delivered as SS Indian Mail a class C5-S-75a ship, to American Mail Line Ltd., of Seattle in 1968 as one of five C5-S-75a class breakbulk cargo container ships (the others being SS Alaskan Mail, SS American Mail, SS Korea Mail, and SS Hong Kong Mail).[1] With the onset of containerization, this type of cargo ship was approaching obsolescence, but this class was well equipped for handling a wide variety of cargoes. The ship was later acquired by American President Lines and name was changed to SS President Jackson.[2] In 1988 the ship was transferred to MARAD, renamed SS Cape Gibson and mothballed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Alameda, California. She was assigned to the Military Sealift Command as a Modular Cargo Delivery System Ship and capable of being reactivated in five days.[3]

In 2009 SS Cape Gibson was reactivated as training ship for Texas A&M Maritime Academy cadets, serving until 2012 until being replaced by TS General Rudder. She was subsequently placed in the Beaumont Reserve Fleet.[4] In August 2016 she was designated for disposal.[5]

References
  1. Colton, Tim. "Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News VA". Shipbuilding History. ShipBuildingHistory.com. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  2. "History of the American President Lines" (PDF). American President Lines. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. Priolo, Gary (2010-11-19). "NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  4. "Training Ship GENERAL RUDDER". Texas A&M University. 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  5. "NATIONAL DEFENSE RESERVE FLEET INVENTORY MAR-612: RESERVE FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MONTHLY REPORT AS OF August 31, 2016" (PDF). MARAD - National Defense Reserve Fleet. U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
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