Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Alava (AK-5012)

Cape A Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:

Laid down in 1962 as SS African Comet a Maritime Administration type (C4-S-58a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 103) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS.

Launched in 1962

Delivered to Farrell Lines, 22 August 1962

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

Bare-bottom charter by Farrell Lines, 17 December 1979

Returned to the MARAD, 11 April 1980, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.

Named changed to SS Comet, 4 August 1980

Renamed, SS Cape Alava, 30 December 1980, assigned to the MARAD Ready Reserve Force, designated (AK-5012)

When activated SS Cape Alava (AK-5012) 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 Alava (AK-5012) could be activated in 30 days

Downgraded from RRF, 1 October 2001, and laid up in the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, to be dismantled at Brownsville, TX.

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 steam turbine, two boilers, single propeller, 16,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Merchant Service Farrell Lines
0913501210	212k	SS African Comet underway, circa 1962-79, locations unknown.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
0913501211	165k		Gerhard Mueller-Debus
MARAD Ready Reserve Fleet
	83k	*SS Cape Alava* (AK-5012)** underway, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration photo.	Maritime Administration RRF web site
MARAD James River Group Reserve Fleet
	94k	From left to right; SS Cape Archway, SS Cape Avinoff and SS Cape Alava laid up in the Maritime Administration's James River Reserve Fleet, 8 April 2009.	Photo by Mike Hibbard
0913501202	95k	SS Cape Alava laid up in the Maritime Administration's James River Reserve Fleet, 8 April 2009. 0913501202 - Starboard stern quarter view 0913501203 - Starboard quarter view 0913501204 - Midships detail 0913501205 - Tricolor MARAD RRF stack markings 0913501206 - Forward starboard quarter	Photos by Mike Hibbard
0913501203	97k
0913501204	85k
0913501205	81k
0913501206	87k
0913501212	144k	*SS Cape Alava* (AK-5012)** and other "Ghost Fleet" ships at anchor in the James River, as seen from Fort Huger, VA., 25 June 2017. Photo courtesy of DrStew82. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.	Robert Hurst
0913501209	240k	*Ex-SS Cape Alava* (AK-5012) under tow, 19 November 2020, passing NavSta Norfolk. ex-Cape Alava** left the James River Reserve Fleet under tow enroute to Steelcoast Recycling, Brownsville, TX. for recycling, arrived at Brownsville 5 December.	Caption by Greg Stitz and Brandon J. Varner Photo by Brandon J. Varner