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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Borda (AK-5058)

Cape B Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 18 October 1965, as SS Howell Lykes, a Maritime Administration type (C4-S-66a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 180) at Avondale Industries, New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched, 16 April 1966
  • Delivered to her owners, Lykes Bros. SS Co., 2 May 1967
  • Acquired by the Maritime Administration in 1985 and laid up in a layberth at Alameda, CA. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force
  • Cape Borda could be activated in 5 days
  • When activated SS Cape Borda (AK-5058) 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
  • SS Cape Borda was activated for Desert Storm/ Desert Shield from 26 August 1990 to September 1991 and placed under the operational control of the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command
  • Cape Borda was maintained in a reduced operating status (partially crewed) in Alameda, CA. from September 1991 to April 2003
  • Downgraded from RRF and laid up in the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., 28 April 2003
  • Downgraded from retention status to non-retention status, 31 July 2006
  • Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet for scrapping, 3 August 2017, departed San Francisco Bay, 7 August 2017, under tow to All Star Metals, Brownsville TX by tug MV C.F. Campbell
    Specifications:
    Displacement 13,669 t.(lt), 21,014 t.(fl)
    Length 514'
    Beam 76'
    Draft 42'6" (max.)
    Speed 20 kts.
    Cargo Capacity, 727,950 cu. ft.
    Full Operating Status Complement (unknown) Civilian Mariners, Reduced Operational Status 5 maintainers
    Propulsion
    Boilers, two Foster-Wheeler water tube boilers
    Main Engine, one high speed twin casing cross compound double reduction DeLaval geared turbine
    Ship Service Generators, two 750KW
    single propeller, 15,500SHP
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service USA Lykes Bros. SS Co.
    Cape Borda 153k Aerial view of SS Howell Lykes under way in 1975.
    Photo from the Chris Howell collection (negative received from Keith Wood).    		 Chris Howell
    Cape Borda 424k SS Howell Lykes under way in harbor assisted by a tug, date and location unknown.
    Photo © A. Duncan    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    MV Cape Borda (AK-5058) - MARAD RRF
    Cape Borda 44k SS Cape Borda (AK-5058) moored pierside probably at her layberth at Alameda, CA., date unknown. US Maritime Administration
    There is no DANFS history available for SS Cape Borda (AK-5058) at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
    National Register Eligibility Assessment
    "The Last Two" - Cape Borda tow 7 August 2017
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 3 November 2017