T.S. Empire State VI

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Career (US)
USTS Empire State VI
Ordered:	February 29, 1960
Builder:	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia
Laid down:	March 1, 1961
Launched:	September 16, 1961
Acquired:	April 19, 1962
Homeport:	Fort Schuyler, New York
Fate:	Training Vessel State University of New York Maritime College
General characteristics
Displacement:	17,000 tons
Length:	565 ft (172 m)
Beam:	76 ft (23 m)
Draught:	25 ft (7.6 m)
Propulsion:	2 Foster Weeler Type D Steam Engines, Steam Turbines, Single Screw
Speed:	22 knots
Complement:	791 (684 Cadets, 107 Officers/Crew)
Time to activate:	10 Days
Notes:	Height from keel to radar mast is 137 feet 11.5 inches

U. S. T. S. Empire State VI (T-AP 1001) is a troop ship of the US Navy and training vessel of the United States Maritime Service.

1 Birth and Early Years
2 Government Service
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Birth and Early Years

The vessel known today as Empire State VI was originally built for States Steamship Company in Newport News, Virginia at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. She was launched on January 19, 1962 as the SS Oregon, a name she kept until the vessel was purchased February 15, 1977 by Moore McCormack Lines who renamed the vessel SS Mormactide. She went to United States Lines in 1983 when USL purchased MML. Although not the last private owner of the vessel, Moore McCormack Lines was the last company to operate the Empire State before being entered into government service, as USL only operated container ships.

[edit] Government Service

In 1986 the last private owner of the vessel, United States Lines, went bankrupt and turned over the Mormactide to the Federal Government [MARAD]. She was originally designated to be converted to an ammunition ship, the USNS "CAPE JUNCTION", TAK507?. Meanwhile, the vessel was laid up in the James River, National Defense Reserve Fleet, Ft Eustice, Virginia. In 1988 the Mormactide was taken to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and underwent a conversion to a Training Ship at Bay Shipbuilding Corporation. After the conversion the Mormactide was renamed to the current name Empire State VI. She was delivered to the State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler on New Years Eve in 1989 to replace the school's aging Empire State V.

In 1994 the Empire State VI was activated by MARAD to support the withdrawal of American troops from Mogadishu, Somalia. In the 2005 aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita which devastated the Gulf Coast, MARAD again activated the Empire State VI. The vessel provided housing and support for port workers and petroleum industry workers as they began repairs on strategic infrastructure and facilities in Louisiana.

Empire State VI is currently under the command of college graduate and alumnus Captain Rick Smith. Captain Smith is also the Commandant of Cadets at the Maritime College.