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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051)

Cape G Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, date unknown, as SS Indian Mail a Maritime Administration type (C5-S-75a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 216) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Delivered to the Maritime Administration, 13 December 1968, for operation by American Mail Lines
  • Named changed to SS President Jackson, date unknown
  • Reacquired by the Maritime Administration and assignment to the Ready Reserve Fleet (RRF)
  • Berthed at Alameda, CA. as part of the Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Fleet
  • When activated SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) was assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as one of the Military Sealift Command's six Modular Cargo Delivery System Ready Reserve Force Ships
  • SS Cape Gibson could be activated in 5 days
  • Reassigned as training ship for Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX.,19 October 2009, renamed TS Texas Clipper IV
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,779 t.(lt), 31,995 t.(fl)
    Length 605'
    Beam 82'
    Draft 35' (max.)
    Speed 18.9 kts
    Cargo Capacity 22,216 DWT
    n on-refrigerated 70,929 Cu ft. (75% capacity)
    Speed 17 kts.
    Full Operating Status Complement 32 Civilian Mariners, Reduced Operational Status 9 maintainers
    Propulsion
    one steam turbine
    two boilers
    single propeller, 14,494shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Commercial Service
    Cape Gibson 98k SS Indian Mail at Yokohama, Japan, 30 March 1974. Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Cape Gibson (T-AK-5051)
    Cape Gibson 106k SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) underway in San Francisco Bay having passed under the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 MSC web site
    Cape Gibson 62k SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) underway in San Francisco Bay, date unknown.
    US Maritime Administration photo.    		 MARAD web site
    Cape Gibson 67k SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) moored pierside, date unknown.
    US Maritime Administration photo.    		 MARAD web site
    Cape Gibson 61k SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) moored pierside, date unknown.
    US Maritime Administration photo.    		 MARAD web site
    Cape Gibson 42k SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) moored in a shipyard, date unknown.
    US Maritime Administration photo.    		 MARAD web site
    TS Texas Clipper IV
    Cape Gibson 49k TS Texas Clipper IV, ex-SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) moored at the Texas Maritime Academy, Galveston, TX., date unknown. Texas A&M University, Galveston web site
    There is no DANFS history available for SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Texas A&M University at Galveston
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 19 November 2010