DOCTOR LYKES


Default Generic Ship Image
Year Built
1972
Official Number
536500
Shipyard
Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding Division
General Type
Barge
Specific Type
SEABEE Barge
MARAD Type
C8-S-82a
Ship Length
875.90 feet
Beam
105.83 feet
Mast Height
155.00 feet
Net Tons
12130.00 tons
Gross Tons
21670.00 tons
Cargo Capacity
77459.00 square feet
Draft, Summer
39.00 tons
Draft, Lightweight
18.30 tons
Displacement, Summer
55660.00 tons
Displacement, Lightweight
--
Immersion, Summer
172.00 tons
Immersion, Lightweight
119.00 tons
Fate
Still in Govt. Service

Historical Narrative



SS Cape Mendocino is a Sea Barge (SEABEE) carrier, originally built as SS Doctor Lykes by General Dynamics Shipyard for the Lykes Brothers Steamship Company in June 1972. 

The U.S. Navy’s Naval Construction Force, or SeaBees, primarily uses the SEABEE barges.  The barges are loaded with cargo and floated to and from a mother ship, which allows loading and unloading of containerized cargo off-shore.  SEABEE barge ships are equipped with a stern cargo elevator for loading the barges from the water onto the vessel; loaded barges can then be moved toward the vessel’s bow using an internal track system.  The barges are stowed on internal decks and are not stacked.  SEABEE barges are larger and heavier than their counterpart, LASH barges.

The Maritime Administration purchasedDoctor Lykes on October 2, 1986 and placed it in the Ready Reserve Force (RRF), and renamed it Cape Mendocino

As part of the RRF, Cape Mendocino participated in activities supporting Operations DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM from 1990-1991. The ship made two trips between Dammam, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. ports of Wilmington, North Carolina and Oakland, California, respectively, to return cargo following military operations.  After discharging its retrograde cargo at the port of Oakland, Cape Mendocino transported empty barges between New Orleans and Norfolk before the Navy’s Military Sealift Command returned the vessel to MARAD control.

The vessel was downgraded to NDRF retention (emergency sealift) status on September 1, 2004, and has not been activated since that time.  In October, 2011, Cape Mendocino was towed from the James River Reserve Fleet to the Beaumont Reserve Fleet, where it is now berthed.

Vessel Name History
1972 - 1986: Doctor Lykes
1986 - present: Cape Mendocino


Vessel Name History

CAPE MENDOCINO

DOCTOR LYKES

Mission

No Mission for this vessel

Historical Documents
Name Download

Milestones


Event Date Content
Ship Name Change
10/6/1986 Ship DOCTOR LYKES changes name to CAPE MENDOCINO

Ship Imagery


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Status Cards



Documents


Date Type Name Download
10/13/2016 C8-S-82a Profile and Decks.pdf Default Generic Download Image

Plans


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Shipwreck Information


No ship wreck information for this vessel