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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Courier (AK-5019)

Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down in 1962 as SS Export Courier a Maritime Administration type (C3-S-46a) hull under MARAD contract (MA hull 124) at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA.
  • Delivered in 1962 to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to be operated by American Export Lines
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1983, renamed SS Courier
  • Assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Ready Reserve Force as AK-5019
  • SS Courier (AK-5019) could be activated for service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) in 30 days
  • When activated SS Courier (AK-5019) was one of the Military Sealift Commands MSC's twenty-five breakbulk cargo ships
  • Courier was withdrawn from MSC's Ready Reserve Force (RRF) and downgraded to the MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet, 1 October 2001
    Specifications:
    Displacement 10,700 t.(lt) 23,500 t.(fl)
    Length 493' 1"
    Beam 73' 2"
    Draft 30' 6" (max.)
    Speed 18.5 kts.
    Cargo Capacity 11,000 t. gross, (663,069 cu. ft.) dry cargo, 25,002 cu. ft. refrigerated cargo, 12,000 bbls liquid
    Complement Full Operating Status 39
    Propulsion 2 steam turbine, twin screws
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    SS Courier (AK-5019) - MSC RRF
    Courier 105k SS Courier (AK-5019) moored pierside, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Courier 76k SS Courier (AK-5019) moored pierside, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Courier 675k SS Courier driven aground during Hurricane Gustav at New Orleans in September 2008. Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    SS Courier - MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet
    Courier
    0913501904     		11k SS Courier moored in the James River National Defense Reserve Fleet, date unknown. Robert Hurst
    There is no DANFS history for SS Courier (AK-5019) at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    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 26 January 2024