Name SS Illinois Laid down 16 February 1976 Launched 21 December 1976 Displacement 13.61 million kg | Owner Sea Lift Command Construction started 16 February 1976 Length 209 m Builder Bath Iron Works | |
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Acquired 2 June 1977, to States Lines, and renamed the USNS Mercury, Renamed SS Cape Island, 22 November 1993 and assigned to the Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force Honors and
awards National Defense Service Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | ||
SS Cape Island (AKR-10) was originally laid down for commercial service in 1976 as Illinois, a Type C7 ship for the States Lines. It was launched and then needed to be used for military service transferred into the Naval Vessel Register (NVR) as the USNS Mercury, as transport ship for vehicles, and other goods. The ship was returned to Crowley Liner Services of Jacksonville, Florida. In 1993 the ship was permanently transferred to the navy's roll as a ready reserve ship, and renamed Cape Island (T-AKR-10). The Cape Island remains laid up in a ready reserve state so that it may be activated in 5 days, if called upon. The ship is currently moored in Tacoma, Washington.
References
SS Cape Island (T-AKR-10) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA