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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044)

Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down in 1964 as SS Gulf Banker a Maritime Administration type (C3-S-37d) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 137) at Avondale Industries, New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched in 1964
  • Delivered to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) in 1964 for operation by the Gulf and South America Line
  • Acquired by Lykes Bros. SS Co. from Gulf and South America Line, 6 January 1972
  • Reacquired by MARAD
  • Laid up in reserve as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Fleet
  • When activated SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044) was maintained and operated under contract by Apex Marine Ship Maintenance Management Co., Lake Success, N.Y. and 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
  • Downgraded to the MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet from the RRF, 1 October 2001
  • Sold for scrapping, date unknown
  • Withdrawn for the Reserve Fleet at Beaumont, TX. 16 March 2013, for delivery to Brownsville, TX. and scrapping
    Specifications:
    Displacement 11,368 t.(lt) 17200 t.(fl)
    Length 471"
    Beam 69'
    Draft 30' 1" (full load)
    Cargo Capacity 564,000 cf
    Depth of Hold 41' 7"
    Speed 18 kts.
    Full Operating Complement unknown
    Propulsion
    two Combustion Engineering water tube boilers
    three General Electric geared turbines
    two 600KW ship's generators sets
    single propeller, 11,000 SHP
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service Lykes Bros. Line
    Gulf Banker 286k Gulf and South America Lines (Lykes affiliate) freighter SS Gulf Banker moored at the Esplanade Ave. Wharf, New Orleans, LA. date unknown.
    Photo © Alex Duncan.    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    MARAD Ready Reserve
    Gulf Banker 113k SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044) underway, date unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Gulf Banker 71k SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044) underway, date unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Gulf Banker 83k SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044) underway, date unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Gulf Banker 106k SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044) underway, date unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Gulf Banker 36k SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044) moored in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, date unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Gulf Banker 8k SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044) passing under the MLK Bridge at Port Arthur, TX. 16 March 2013, while under tow from the National Defense Reserve Fleet Beaumont, TX. bound for Brownsville and scrapping.
    Photo by Scott LaBurne    		 Lee Wahler
    There is no DANFS history available for SS Gulf Banker (AK-5044) at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    National Register Eligibility Assessment
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 August 3017