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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Ambassador (AK-5007)

Cape A Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 22 January 1959, as SS Export Ambassador a Maritime Administration type (C3-S-58a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 57) at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Newark, N.J.

Launched,23 April 1960

Delivered to the American Export Lines in January 1961

Acquired by Farrell Lines from American Export - Isbrandsten Lines, in 1978

Acquired by the Maritime Administration from Farrell Lines, circa 1978 for lay up in the Maritime Administrations National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), James River, Lee Hall, VA. in a retention status, named changed to SS Ambassador

Assigned to the US Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC) Ready Reserve Force (RRF), as AK-5007, 15 December 1980

Outported, 24 July 1981, to US Navy Ammunition Depot Cheatham Annex, Williamsburg, VA.

SS Ambassador could be activated in 10 days

Activated for Desert Shield/Storm, 16 January 1991, for Desert Shield/Storm

Assigned to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., 7 December 1993

Moved to the National Defense Reserve Fleet anchorage at Suisun Bay in 1995

Downgraded from RRF retention status to non-retention status in 2001

Sold for scrapping, circa December 2011

Final Disposition, towed to Texas and scrapped in 2012

Specifications:
Displacement 7,848 t.(lt), 10,986 t.(fl)
Length 492' 6"
Beam 73'
Draft 27' (max.)
Speed 18.5 kts.

Full Operating Status Complement

Civilian Mariners, 55

Reduced Operating Status 5 Maintainers

Propulsion

two General Electric steam turbines

two Babcock and Wilcox boilers

single propeller, 12,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Merchant Service American Export Isbrandtsen Lines.
> 13500707	264k	American Export - Isbrandtsen Lines SS Export Ambassador underway, circa 1960s-70s, location unknown.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
MARAD Ready Reserve
	34k	*SS Ambassador* (AK-5007)** laid up in the National Defense Reserve Flee, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., date unknown	Maritime Administration photos
	22k		Maritime Administration photos
	246k	*SS Ambassador* (AK-5007)** drydocked in Dry Dock #3 at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard for bottom cleaning prior to being towed to Texas for dismantling, 4 April 2012	Photo by Chris Rasmussen
	255k	*SS Ambassador* (AK-5007)** under tow in San Francisco Bay, 14 April 2012, enroute to Texas for scrapping after bottom cleaning at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Photos were taken from the Golden Gate Bridge.	Photos by Richard Jones
	276k
	305k

There is no DANFS history available for SS Ambassador (AK-5007) at NavSource

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
National Register Eligibility Assessment

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 31 January 2020