| Career (US) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | TS Empire State VI |
| Owner: | U.S. Maritime Administration |
| Operator: | SUNY Maritime College |
| 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 |
| Honors and awards: |
U.S. Maritime Administrator's Award of Merit |
| Fate: | Training Vessel State University of New York Maritime College |
| Status: | Ready Reserve Fleet |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Training Ship/Troopship |
| Displacement: | 17,000 long tons (17,273 t) |
| Length: | 565 ft (172 m) |
| Beam: | 76 ft (23 m) |
| Height: | 137 ft 11.5 in (42.050 m) from keel to radar mast |
| Draft: | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Foster Wheeler Type D steam engines, steam turbines, single screw |
| Speed: | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) |
| Complement: | 791 (684 cadets, 107 officers/crew) |
| Time to activate: | 10 days |
| Armament: | None |
| Aircraft carried: | None |
| Aviation facilities: | None |
USTS Empire State VI (T-AP-1001), callsign KKFW, IMO number 5264510, is a troop ship of the United States Navy and training vessel of the United States Maritime Service.
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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 as a break bulk cargo freighter. 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.
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 (T-AK-507?). Meanwhile, the vessel was laid up in the James River, National Defense Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, 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 the 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 SUNY Maritime College alumnus Captain Richard S. Smith. Captain Smith is also the Commandant of Cadets at the Maritime College.
With twenty years of service to the Maritime College, the ship holds the record as the longest serving power-driven vessel ever used by the school. She is expected to remain in use through at least 2014.
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