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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051)

Cape G Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 13 November 1967, 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, 27 July 1968

Delivered to the Maritime Administration, 30 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

Cape Gibson was returned to MARAD, 4 April 2012, and moved to the Beaumont Reserve Fleet anchorage

Designated for disposal, 16 November 2015

Final Disposition, departed Beaumont Reserve Fleet, under tow by tug Rachel, to Brownsville, TX. for recycling. Cape Gibson arrived at Brownsville, 3 October 2020

Specifications:
Displacement 9,779 t.(lt), 31,995 t.(fl)
Length 605'
Beam 82'
Draft 35' (max.)
Speed 18.9 kts

Cargo Capacities

Bale 1,045,160 cubic feet

Refrigerated 21,839 cubic feet

Liquid 95,080 cubic feet

Passenger Capacity 12

Speed 23 kts.

Full Operating Status Complement 45 Civilian Mariners, Reduced Operational Status 9 maintainers

Propulsion

one geared steam turbine

two B&W WT boilers, 875 PSI @ 950 degrees Fahrenheit

single propeller, 24,000shp

Robert Hurst

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Merchant Service American Mail SS Co.
0913505111	127k	The ship's sponsor, Mrs. Warren G. Magnuson, wife of Senator Magnuson of Washington, christens SS Indian Mail, during launching ceremonies, 27 July 1068, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.	Dale Hargrave
0913505112	83k		Dale Hargrave
	98k	SS Indian Mail at Yokohama, Japan, 30 March 1974.	Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
Cape Gibson (AK-5051)
	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
	62k	*SS Cape Gibson* (AK-5051)** underway in San Francisco Bay, date unknown. US Maritime Administration photo.	MARAD web site
	67k	*SS Cape Gibson* (AK-5051)** moored pierside, date unknown. US Maritime Administration photo.	MARAD web site
	61k	*SS Cape Gibson* (AK-5051)** moored pierside, date unknown. US Maritime Administration photo.	MARAD web site
	42k	*SS Cape Gibson* (AK-5051)** moored in a shipyard, date unknown. US Maritime Administration photo.	MARAD web site
	275k	*SS Cape Gibson* (AK-5051)** moored in the National Defense Reserve Fleet Beaumont, TX, November 2014, US Maritime Administration photo.	Photo by Chris Holley
	211k	*SS Cape Gibson* (AK-5051) moored outboard of USNS Paul Buck (T-AOT-1122), USNS Richard G. Matthiesen (T-AOT-1124) and USNS Samuel J. Cobb (T-AOT-1123)** in the National Defense Reserve Fleet Beaumont, TX, 2 November 2014, US Maritime Administration photo.	Photo by Chris Holley
TS Texas Clipper IV
	49k	TS Texas Clipper IV, moored at the Texas Maritime Academy, Galveston, TX., date unknown.	Texas A&M University, Galveston web site
0913505110	85k	SS Texas Clipper IV moored at Texas A&M Maritime Academy small boat basin, with the gravity lifeboat davit trainer in the foreground, 1 March 2011. Photo taken by MarlinespikeMate (real name unknown)