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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Archway (AK-5011)


Cape A Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 12 August 1961, as SS African Neptune a Maritime Administration type (C4-S-58a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 106) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 15 September 1962
  • Sold by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 20 February 1963, to Farrell Lines
  • Trade-in and Build Program, title returned to MARAD, 17 December 1979
  • Bare-bottom charter by Farrell Lines, 17 December 1979
  • Returned to MARAD, 2 April 1980, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Named changed to SS Neptune, 4 August 1980
  • Renamed SS Cape Archway, designated (AK-5011), assigned by MARAD to the Ready Reserve Fleet, 30 December 1980
  • When activated SS Cape Archway (T-AK-5011) was assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as one of the Military Sealift Command's Modular Cargo Delivery System Ready Reserve Force (RRF) Ships
  • Cape Archway could be activated 10 days
  • Downgraded from RRF and laid up in the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA., 19 December 2002
  • Final Disposition, departed James River Reserve Fleet, 29 October 2019, under tow to Brownsville, TX. for recycling, arrived 11 November 2019.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,380 t.(lt), 21,110 t.(fl)
    Length 575'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 30' (max.)
    Speed 18.3 kts.
    Full Operating Status Complement (unknown) Civilian Mariners, Reduced Operating Status 5 maintainers
    Propulsion steam turbine, two boilers, single propeller, 16,500shp

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    Size Image Description Source
    Cape Archway 88k SS Cape Archway (AK-5011) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Haze Gray and Underway
    Cape Archway 67k SS Cape Archway (AK-5011) underway, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Archway 75k SS Cape Archway (AK-5011) underway with a tug alongside, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Archway 54k SS Cape Archway (AK-5011) moored pierside, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Archway 719k Starboard bow view of SS Cape Archway (AK-5011) tied up at the Moon Engineering Company pier on the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, VA., 12 September 1987.
    DVIC photo # DN-ST-88-07983, by Don S. Montgomery, USN Ret., from in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center
    Bill Gonyo
    MARAD James River Group Reserve Fleet
    Cape Archway 24k SS Cape Archway laid up in the Maritime Administration's James River Reserve Fleet, off Fort Eustis, VA., date unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Archway 100k From left to right; SS Cape Juby, SS Cape Alexander, SS Cape Ann and SS Cape Archway laid up in the Maritime Administration's James River Reserve Fleet, 8 April 2009. Photo by Mike Hibbard
    Cape Archway 94k From left to right; SS Cape Archway, SS Cape Avinoff and SS Cape Alva laid up in the Maritime Administration's James River Reserve Fleet, 8 April 2009. Photo by Mike Hibbard

    There is no DANFS history available for SS Cape Archway (AK-5011) at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Register Eligibility Assessment

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 29 November 2019