Owner Sea Lift Command Acquired September 8, 1987 Class and type Roll-on/Roll-off ship Launched 24 May 1975 Draft 9.754 m Builder Bath Iron Works | Laid down July 1, 1974 Renamed SS Cape inscription Construction started 1 July 1974 Length 200 m Beam 31 m | |
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Status Laid up as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet in a layberth at Long Beach, CA. in ROS-5 status. Currently in Portland, OR | ||
The SS Cape Inscription (AKR-5076) was originally launched in 1975 as the SS Maine, a Type C7 commercial ship. The States SS company took the first contract in 1976 and it operated until January 29, 1979, when it was purchased by Whitney National Bank, it was then leased to Lykes Brothers steamship company and renamed the SS Tyson Lykes on February 23, 1979. On October 20 the Lykes Brothers purchased the ship from the Whitney National Bank. Later on September 1987 the ship was reacquired from its commercial roles and brought back under military control under the Maritime Administration and renamed the SS Cape Inscription. Since then it has been kept in ready reserve status and used occasionally for heavy lifting operations to European theaters to have the equipment air-lifted to active engagements.