SS ''Cape Florida'' (AK-5071) was laid down 29 December 1969, as SS ''LASH Turkiye'', a

United States Maritime Administration The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) is an Government agency#United States, agency of the United States Department of Transportation. MARAD administers financial programs to develop, promote, and operate the United States Maritime ...

type ( C8-S-81b) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 229) at

Avondale Industries Avondale Shipyard was an independent shipbuilding company, acquired by Litton Industries, in turn acquired by Northrop Grumman Corporation. In 2011, along with the former Ingalls Shipbuilding, the yard was part of Huntington Ingalls Industries. It ...

Corp., New Orleans. She was launched, 10 October 1970 and delivered to the Maritime Administration, 12 September 1973, for operation by Prudential Grace Line. She was acquired by Delta Line and initially renamed SS ''Delta Caribe'' and subsequently SS ''American Caribe''. She was reacquired by the Maritime Administration for assignment to the

Ready Reserve Fleet The National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) consists of ships of the United States, mostly merchant vessels, that have been mothballed but can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping during national military emergencies, or non-mil ...

(RRF) on 17 February 1987 where she was berthed at Beaumont, Texas. When activated ''Cape Florida'' was assigned to the

Military Sealift Command The Military Sealift Command (MSC) is an organization that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy. Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all U ...

(MSC) as one of the Military Sealift Command's four LASH Ready Reserve Force Ships and could be activated in 10 days. She was removed from MSC control, withdrawn from the RRF by reassignment to the

National Defense Reserve Fleet The National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) consists of Ship, ships of the United States, mostly Merchant ship, merchant vessels, that have been Reserve fleet, mothballed but can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping during nationa ...

, 28 July 2006. On 6 July 2020 the contract for dismantling ''Cape Florida'' was awarded to International Shipbreaking Ltd. She arrived at Brownsville, Texas on 13 August of the same year to begin scrapping, with the process expected to be completed by early 2021.

References

External links

National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cape Florida Ships built in Bridge City, Louisiana 1970 ships