MV Cape Taylor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MV Cape Taylor (T-AKR-113) is a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ship with the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) of the United States Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD).[4] As of 31 December 2014[update], her homeport is the Port of Houston in Houston, Texas, and she is on ROS-5 status; she is able to be fully operational within 5 days of being activated.[1] When activated, she becomes part of the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC).[6]
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Cape Taylor at sea | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | MV Cape Taylor (T-AKR-113) |
| Owner | United States Department of Transportation |
| Operator | United States Maritime Administration |
| Builder | Sasebo Heavy Industries, Sasebo, Japan |
| Launched | 8 July 1977 |
| Acquired | 15 March 1993 |
| In service | 27 July 1994 |
| Home port | Houston, Texas |
| Identification |
|
| Status | RRF; ROS-5 status |
| Notes | When activated, Cape Taylor comes under the operational control of the Military Sealift Command.[1] |
| General characteristics [2] [3] [4] [5] | |
| Class & type | Cape T-class Roll-on/roll-off (Vehicle Carrier) ship |
| Displacement | 26,456 long tons (26,881 t) |
| Length | 634 ft 3 in (193.3 m)[a] |
| Beam | 88 ft 7 in (27.0 m) |
| Height | 163 ft 5 in (49.8 m) |
| Draft | 28 ft 4 in (8.6 m) |
| Installed power | 18,980 bhp (14.15 MW) |
| Propulsion | 2 × MAN 9L 52/55A heavy oil Diesel Engines with one Propeller |
| Speed | 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph) |
| Range | 22,600 nautical miles (41,900 km) @ 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Crew | 10 civilians in reserve status;[6] 26 civilians when activated[b] |
Design and construction
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The vessel now known as Cape Taylor was laid down by Sasebo Heavy Industries in Sasebo, Japan in 1977.[2] She is a conventional RO/RO (Vehicle Carrier) ship with the superstructure aft, followed by twin funnels, and a stern ramp.[2] She is 634 ft 3 in (193.3 m) in overall length with a lightweight displacement of 12,141 long tons (12,336 t) and a fully loaded displacement of 26,456 long tons (26,881 t). For carrying US Army and Marine Corps combat vehicles, she has 88,136 sq ft (8,188.1 m2) of cargo capacity.[5] She can carry 340 containers plus vehicles and her hull is ice strengthened.[2]
Service history
Commercial service
She was launched on 8 July 1977 and began service with DDG Hansa Line as MV Rabenfels.[3] In 1981, the vessel was sold to Lykes Lines who operated her as MV Cygnus.[4] There are also records of her being named MV ASL Cygnus (1992) and MV Thakwini (1993)[3] or MV ASL Cygnus Thakwini.[1]
US Government service
Cape Taylor was purchased by the US Government in 1992 and acquired on 15 March 1993.[4] On 19 August 1994, she was transferred to MARAD and became part of the Ready Reserve Fleet.[3]
On 23 January 2003, Cape Taylor was activated and placed "In Service" from the Ready Reserve Force to haul military cargo to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 6 June 2003, she was placed "Out of Service" and returned to her Ready Reserve Force lay berth in Houston on a four-day recall status. The Ship is Currently managed by Patriot Contract Services.[4]
On 4 July 2025, Cape Taylor was docked in the Boston Marine Industrial Park. Ship tracking sites indicate she has been in Boston since March.
