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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Catawba (AK-5074)

Northern Light Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 26 January as SS Mormaccape, a Maritime Administration type (C3-S-33a) hull, under Maritime Administration contract (MA hull 69), at Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, CA.
  • Launched in 1961
  • Delivered to Moore-McCormack Lines when completed in 1961
  • Title transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 15 February 1980
  • Returned to MARAD, 27 March 1980, at Beaumont, TX, renamed SS Cape
  • Reassigned to a lay berth in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Cheatham Annex, VA., 17 May 1985, assigned to the US Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC)'s Ready Reserve Force (RRF), and renamed SS Cape Catawba (AK-5074)
  • Status downgraded to in reserve in the MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in March 2008 to International Shipbreaking Corp., Brownsville, TX.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,316t.(lt) 12,402t.(fl)
    Length 486'
    Beam 68'
    Draft 31' (max.)
    Speed 16.2 kts.
    Propulsion two boilers, single steam turbine engine, one propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Commercial Service
    Cape Catawba 61k SS Mormaccape arriving Durban, South Africa, 22 December 1969.
    ©Uli Weismann, South Africa    		 Submitted by David Nixon
    Cape Catawba 75k SS Mormaccape arriving Durban, South Africa, 22 December 1969.
    ©Uli Weismann, South Africa    		 Submitted by David Nixon
    SS Cape Catabwa (AK-5074) MSC Ready Reserve Force
    Cape Catawba 54k SS Cape Catawba (AK-5074) moored pierside, date and location unknown. Maritime Administration
    Cape Catawba 67k SS Cape Catawba (AK-5074) at anchor, date and location unknown. Maritime Administration
    There is no DANFS history for Cape Catawba (AK-5074) at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 April 2008