MV Cape Texas (T-AKR-112)

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MV Cape Texas (T-AKR-112} is a Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) ship with the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) of the United States Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD).[1] As of 31 December 2014, her homeport is the Port of Houston in Houston, Texas and she is on ROS-5 status; she is able to be fully operational within 5 days of being activated.[2] When activated, she becomes part of the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC).[3]

Design and Construction

Stern view of MV Cape Texas (T-AKR-112) as sea

The vessel now known as Cape Texas was laid down by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, Germany.[4] She is a conventional RO/RO (Vehicle Carrier) ship with the superstructure aft, followed by twin funnels, and a stern ramp. [4] She is 634 ft 3 in (193.3 m) in overall length with a lightweight displacement of 9,687 long tons (9,842 t) and a fully loaded displacement of 24,555 long tons (24,949 t). For carrying US Army and Marine Corp combat vehicles, she has 88,136 sq ft (8,188.1 m2) of cargo capacity.[5] She can carry 340 containers plus vehicles and her hull is ice strengthened.[4]

Service History

Commercial Service

She was launched on 16 June 1977 and began service with DDG Hansa Line as MV Reichenfels.[6] In 1981, the vessel was sold to Lykes Lines who operated her as MV Lyra.[1]

US Government Service

Cape Texas was purchased by the US Government in 1992 and acquired on 21 January 1993.[1] She initially operated in MSC service as the USNS Lyra.[4] On 19 August 1994, she was transferred to MARAD and became part of the Ready Reserve Fleet.[6]

On 23 January 2003, Cape Texas was activated and placed “In Service” from the Ready Reserve Force to haul military cargo to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She proceeded to Corpus Christi, Texas to load military vehicles and equipment. On 2 May 2003, she was placed "Out of Service” and returned to her Ready Reserve Force lay berth in Houston on a four-day recall status.

On 26 December 2004, she was again activated to MSC in continued support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was returned to the Ready Reserve Force on 7 April 2005 and returned to Houston.[1]

Footnotes

Notes

  1. Sources conflict on crew size. Polmar (2005, p. 318) and Silverstone (2011, p. 244) both list a crew of 49 civilians. Conversely, Navsource.org lists a crew of 27 civilians. The RRF Fleet Pamphlet lists a crew of 26 with a supercargo of 14 for a total crew of 40.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 MARAD.
  2. ↑ Navsource.org.
  3. ↑ Naval Vessel Register.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Polmar 2005, p. 318.
  5. ↑ RRF Fleet Pamphlet.
  6. 1 2 Silverstone 2011, p. 244.

References

Printed References

Online

Cape Texas at sea
History
Name: MV Cape Texas (T-AKR-112)
Owner: United States Department of Transportation
Operator: United States Maritime Administration
Builder: Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel, Germany
Launched: 16 June 1977
Acquired: 21 January 1993
In service: 19 August 1994
Homeport: Houston, Texas
Identification: IMO number: 7602247
Status: RRF; ROS-5 status
Notes: When activated, Cape Texas comes under the operational control of the Military Sealift Command.[1]
General characteristics [2] [3] [4] [5]
Class and type: Cape T-class Roll-on/roll-off (Vehicle Carrier) ship
Displacement: 24,555 long tons (24,949 t)
Length: 634 ft 3 in (193.3 m)
Beam: 88 ft 7 in (27.0 m)
Height: 161 ft 5 in (49.2 m)
Draft: 28 ft 3 in (8.6 m)
Installed power: 18,980 bhp (14.15 MW)
Propulsion: 2 × MAN 9L 52/55A heavy oil Diesel Engines with one Propeller
Speed: 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph)
Range: 22,600 nautical miles (41,900 km) @ 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Crew: 10 civilians in reserve status;[6] 26 civilians when activated[lower-alpha 1]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to MV Cape Texas (T-AKR-112).

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.

  1. ↑ Navsource.org.
  2. ↑ Polmar 2005, p. 318.
  3. ↑ Silverstone 2011, p. 244.
  4. ↑ MARAD.
  5. ↑ RRF Fleet Pamphlet.
  6. ↑ Naval Vessel Register.
  1. ↑
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