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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Ann (AK-5009)

Cape A Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 18 September 1961, as SS African Mercury a Maritime Administration type (C4-S-58a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 105) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS.

Launched, 7 July 1962

Delivered to Farrell Lines, 21 December 1962

Title transferred, 17 December 1979, to the Maritime Administration MARAD Trade-in and Build Program

Bare-bottom charter by Farrell Lines, 17 December 1979

Returned to MARAD, 19 March 1980, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.

Named changed to SS Mercury, 4 August 1980

Renamed SS Cape Ann, designated (AK-5009), assigned to the MARAD Ready Reserve, with a layberth near Baltimore, MD.

When activated SS Cape Ann (AK-5009) was assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as one of the Military Sealift Command's Modular Cargo Delivery System Ready Reserve Force (RRF) Ships

SS Cape Ann (AK-5009) could be activated in 10 days

Downgraded from RRF and laid up in the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA., 19 December 2002

Specifications:
Displacement 7,380 t.(lt), 21,110 t.(fl)
Length 575'
Beam 75'
Draft 30' (max.)
Speed 18.3 kts.
Full Operating Status Complement (unknown) Civilian Mariners

Propulsion

one steam turbine

two boilers

single propeller, 16,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	54k	*SS Cape Ann* (AK-5009)** moored pierside in her layberth near Baltimore, MD. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force, date and place unknown.	US Maritime Administration
	55k	*SS Cape Ann* (AK-5009)** moored in her layberth near Baltimore, MD. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force, date and location unknown.	US Maritime Administration
	260k	*SS Cape Ann* (AK-5009) and SS Cape Avinoff (AK-5013)** moored in their layberths near Baltimore, MD. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force in 1994.	Photos by Cody Shaffer
	144k		Photos by Cody Shaffer
0913500907	256k	*SS Cape Ann* (AK-5009) and SS Cape Avinoff (AK-5013)** moored in their layberths near Baltimore, MD. as part of the Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Force, 21 May 1996. Photo by Don Montgomery USN Ret	Robert Hurst
MARAD James River Group Reserve Fleet
	24k	SS Cape Ann (far right) laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Fort Eustis, VA., date unknown. US Maritime Administration photo	Peter Westdijk
	100k	From left to right; SS Cape Juby, SS Cape Alexander, SS Cape Ann and SS Cape Archway laid up in the Maritime Administration's James River Reserve Fleet, 8 April 2009.	Photo by Mike Hibbard
	315k	SS Cape Ann laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Fort Eustis, VA., 22 June 2011	Photo by R. M. Boss
0913500908	152k	U.S. Marines with the *26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) 26, conduct Boat Assault Force (BAF) Operations during a Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) course at Fort Eustis, VA., 11 January 2023. The ship used for the exercise was SS Cape Ann* (AK-5009)** which was transferred to the James River Reserve Fleet in 2001. U.S. Marine Corps photo # 230111-M-VB101-1306A by Cpl. Matthew Romonoyske-Bean.	Robert Hurst

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Database
National Register Eligibility Assessment

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 28 November 2025