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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USTS Kennedy
ex
USTS Enterprise (2001 - 2009)
SS Cape Bon (AK-5059) (1966 - 2001)

Cape B Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:

Laid down in 1964 as Velma Lykes, a Maritime Administration type (C4-S-66a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 182) at Avondale Industries, New Orleans, LA.

Launched in 1966

Delivered to the Maritime Administration in 1966, for operation by Lykes Bros SS Co.

Purchased from Lykes Bros., 26 June 1985

Reacquired by the Maritime Administration, and laid up in reserve at Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. as part of the Maritime Administrations National Defense Reserve Fleet

Renamed SS Cape Bon (AK-5059) in September 1985

When activated Cape Bon 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 Bon (AK-5059) was outported to Hunters Point San Francisco, 18 February 1986 under MARAD contract DTMA 91-85-C-50574 with International Corp., and a General Agency Agreement with American President Line for RRF 5 status Cape Bon could be activated in 5 days

Transferred to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 2001 and renamed USTS Enterprise

Renamed USTS Kennedy by Massachusetts Maritime Academy in January 2009

Specifications:
Displacement 7,178 t.(lt), 21,840 t.(fl)
Length 540'
Beam 76'
Draft 33' (max.)
Speed 18 kts.
Full Operating Status Complement (unknown) Civilian Mariners
Propulsion High speed twin casing cross compound double reduction gear turbine, single propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Merchant Service Lykes Bros. Steamship Co.
	81k	SS Velma Lykes inbound at Durban, South Africa, June 1985. Photograph courtesy of Kevin Moore - Wellandcanal.ca, Willam Van Maanan Collection	Robert Hurst
	316k	Lykes Cargoliner SS Velma Lykes in harbor, date and location unknown. © Alex Duncan.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
MARAD (RRF) Ready Reserve Force
	46k	*SS Cape Bon* (AK-5059)** moored pierside forward of an unidentified cargo ship, date and location unknown.	US Maritime Administration
	51k	*SS Cape Bon* (AK-5059) getting under way at NAS Alameda circa late-2000, She may have been heading south for conversion at Bender Ship Repair, Mobile, AL. to the training ship Enterprise. Tugs from American Navigation Co. are assisting Cape Bon** out of her berth.	Photos by Bruce Moyer
	57k
	51k
	49k
	47k
	33k
	78k
	39k	*SS Cape Bon* (AK-5059) during conversion at Bender Ship Repair, Mobile, AL. to the training ship Enterprise**. Conversion work began, 1 January 2001 and was completed in 2003. Image from Massachusetts Maritime Academy	Robert Hurst
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
	21k	USTS Enterprise arrives at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, MA., 2003. Image from Massachusetts Maritime Academy	Robert Hurst
	16k	Ex-*SS Cape Bon* (AK-5059)** in service as USTS Enterprise moored pierside at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy dock, date unknown.	Massachusetts Maritime Academy web site
	13k	USTS Enterprise underway, 1 January 2005, renamed USTS Kennedy in January 2009 in honor of the Kennedy family. Image courtesy of MMAPA (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Parents Association)	Robert Hurst