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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Ann (AK-5009)

Cape A Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 18 September 1961, as SS African Mercury a Maritime Administration type (C4-S-58a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 105) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 7 July 1962
  • Delivered to Farrell Lines, 21 December 1962
  • Title transferred, 17 December 1979, to the Maritime Administration MARAD Trade-in and Build Program
  • Bare-bottom charter by Farrell Lines, 17 December 1979
  • Returned to MARAD, 19 March 1980, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Named changed to SS Mercury, 4 August 1980
  • Renamed SS Cape Ann, designated (AK-5009), assigned to the MARAD Ready Reserve, with a layberth near Baltimore, MD.
  • When activated SS Cape Ann (AK-5009) 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 Ann (AK-5009) could be activated in 10 days
  • Downgraded from RRF and laid up in the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA., 19 December 2002
    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
    Propulsion
    one steam turbine
    two boilers
    single propeller, 16,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Cape Ann 54k SS Cape Ann (AK-5009) moored pierside in her layberth near Baltimore, MD. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force, date and place unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Ann 55k SS Cape Ann (AK-5009) moored in her layberth near Baltimore, MD. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Ann 260k SS Cape Ann (AK-5009) and SS Cape Avinoff (AK-5013) moored in their layberths near Baltimore, MD. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force in 1994. Photos by Cody Shaffer
    Cape Ann 144k
    Cape Ann
    0913500907     		256k SS Cape Ann (AK-5009) and SS Cape Avinoff (AK-5013) moored in their layberths near Baltimore, MD. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force, 21 May 1996. Robert Hurst
    MARAD James River Group Reserve Fleet
    Cape Ann 24k SS Cape Ann (far right) laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Fort Eustis, VA., date unknown.
    US Maritime Administration photo    		 Peter Westdijk
    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 Ann 315k SS Cape Ann laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Fort Eustis, VA., 22 June 2011 Photo by R. M. Boss
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    National Register Eligibility Assessment
    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 16 May 2025