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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Girardeau (AK-2039)

Cape G Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:

Built, date unknown, by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA. in 1968 as SS Alaskan Mail a Maritime Administration type (C5-S-75a)

Launched, date unknown

Delivered to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 29 October 1968, for operation by American Mail Steam Ship Co.

Named changed to SS President Adams, 11 April 1978

Reacquired by the Maritime Administration for assignment to the Ready Reserve Fleet (RRF), 11 April 1988

Berthed at Alameda, CA. as part of the Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Fleet

Assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as SS Cape Girardeau (AK-2039)

Operated by APL for the government during Operation Desert Storm

SS Cape Girardeau (AK-2039) was withdrawn from the Ready Reserve Fleet, and returned to the National Defense Reserve Fleet in October 2008

Deleted from the MSC Ready Reserve Force, date unknown

Final Disposition, arrived at Brownsville, TX. for dismantling, February 2024

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

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Merchant Service American President Lines
0913203910	108k	SS Alaskan Mail launching 16 April 1968 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA. Christened by Mrs. E. L. "Bob" Bartlett, wife of the senator from Alaska.	Dale Hargrave
0913203911	109k		Dale Hargrave
	86k	American Mail Steam Ship Co. freighter SS President Adams underway, date and location unknown.
SS Cape Girardeau (AK-2039) MARAD Ready Reserve Fleet
	50k	*SS Cape Girardeau* (AK-2039)** underway in San Francisco Bay, date unknown. US Navy photo.	MARAD web site
	50k	*SS Cape Girardeau* (AK-2039)** underway in San Francisco Bay, date unknown. US Navy photo.	MARAD web site
	50k	*SS Cape Girardeau* (AK-2039)** moored pierside, date and place unknown. US Navy photo.	MARAD web site
	163k	*SS Cape Girardeau* (AK-2039)** moored on the Columbia River, circa 1990s. Photo by Rick Garcia.	Chris Howell, SOUTHLAND SHIP STORES LIMITED, Port of BLUFF, NEW ZEALAND
	60k	*SS Cape Girardeau* (AK-2039) (the modular cargo delivery system ship) steams with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)** as an HH-60H Seahawk assigned to the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four (HS-4) returns to pick up another load of supplies during a Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), 16 July 2004. *Cape Girardeau* was re-activated from the National Defense Reserve Fleet to participate in exercises at sea. US Navy photo # 040716-N-0684R-084 by PHAN Ron Reeves from the Navy NewsStand web site.	Fabio Peña
0913203909	153k	*SS Cape Girardeau* (AK-2039)** docked outboard at Alameda, CA., September 2005. Photo courtesy Stan Shebs	Roert Hurst