CAPE GIRARDEAU (AK-2039)

Cape Girardeau, at dock. Date a location unknown. MARAD photo.

Year Built

1968

Official Number

517120

Shipyard

Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company

General Type

Naval Auxiliary

Specific Type

AK Cargo Ship

MARAD Type

C5-S-75a

Ship Length

605.00 feet

Beam

82.00 feet

Mast Height

140.70 feet

Net Tons

10002.00 tons

Gross Tons

15949.00 tons

Cargo Capacity

70929.00 square feet

Draft, Summer

35.00 tons

Draft, Lightweight

12.30 tons

Displacement, Summer

31995.00 tons

Displacement, Lightweight

9779.00 tons

Immersion, Summer

91.00 tons

Immersion, Lightweight

74.00 tons

Fate

Still in Govt. Service

Historical Narrative

Cape Girardeau is a break-bulk cargo ship built for American Mail Line, Ltd. in 1968 as Alaskan Mail. The vessel was later sold to American President Lines and renamed President Adams.

The Maritime Administration purchased the vessel in 1988 and renamed it Cape Girardeau. While part of the Ready Reserve Force, Cape Girardeau was part of the flotilla that engaged in cargo operations during Operation DESERT STORM.

In October 2008 Cape Girardeau, already anchored in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, was downgraded to the National Defense Reserve Fleet retention program where it is currently in emergency sealift status.

Vessel Name History

1968 - 1978: Alaskan Mail
1978 - 1988: President Adams
1988 - present: Cape Girardeau (AK-2039)

Vessel Name History

ALASKAN MAIL

CAPE GIRARDEAU (AK-2039)

PRESIDENT ADAMS

Mission

Mission Name
Operations Desert Shield/Storm/Sortie

Historical Documents

Name	Download

Milestones

Event	Date	Content
Acquisition	4/12/1988
Interim Movement	2/13/1997	ENRTE: NAS Alameda
Interim Movement	2/13/1997	At NAS Alameda
Interim Movement	11/12/1997	ENRTE: San Francisco Drydock
Interim Movement	11/12/1997	At San Francisco Drydock f/ hull inspect
Interim Movement	11/14/1997	ENRTE: Alameda Point
Interim Movement	11/14/1997	At Alameda Point / new homeport
Interim Movement	9/24/1998	No-Notice Turbo Activation 98-3
Interim Movement	9/25/1998	Completed Turbo Activation
Interim Movement	1/16/1999	ENRTE: Cascade Marine in Portland OR
Interim Movement	1/17/1999	At Cascade Marine for boiler plug
Interim Movement	1/25/1999	Conducting sea trial
Interim Movement	1/27/1999	Completed sea trial at Alameda
Interim Movement	1/10/2001	Conducting sea trial
Interim Movement	1/11/2001	Completed sea trial / MSC OPCON
Interim Movement	1/12/2001	Commencing WESTEX 01 Exercise
Interim Movement	1/17/2001	In Pearl Harbor HI for MCDS OPS WESTEX
Interim Movement	1/21/2001	On MCDS OPS prior to Alameda return
Interim Movement	1/24/2001	Discharging cargo
Interim Movement	1/29/2001	Conducting MCDS operations/Enrte:Alameda
Interim Movement	2/14/2001	Return from UREP / MARAD OPCON
Interim Movement	8/27/2002	Turbo Activation 02-02 sea trial
Interim Movement	8/30/2002	Completed Turbo Activation 02-02 S/T
Interim Movement	9/13/2003	ENRTE: Cascade General for drydocking
Interim Movement	9/15/2003	At Cascade General for drydocking
Interim Movement	9/24/2003	ENRTE: Alameda CA
Interim Movement	9/26/2003	Returned from drydocking
Interim Movement	10/29/2004	Commencing LIVE EX-05 \| MSC OPCON
Interim Movement	11/23/2004	Completed LIVE EX-05 \| MARAD OPCON
Depart	3/20/2008	"Under tow from Alameda, CA at 0904PDT to BAE in San Francisco, CA."
Arrival	3/20/2008	"At BAE in San Francisco, CA, first line 1030PDT."
Depart	3/27/2008	"ENROUTE to Alameda, CA at 0637PDT following drydocking."
Arrival	3/27/2008	"Returned to Alameda, CA from BAE at 0831PDT."
Arrival	7/24/2008	At SBRF for RRF lay-up.
	2/5/2009	NDRF Status changed from Military Useful to Emergency Sealift