MV Cape Ray (T-AKR-9679)

For the headland located in Newfoundland, see Cape Ray. For the town, see Cape Ray, Newfoundland and Labrador.
MV Cape Ray (T-AKR-9679) in 2014
Career
Name: MV Cape Ray
Owner: Maritime Administration (MARAD)[1]
Builder: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan[1][2]
Acquired: 17 Dec 1994[2]
General characteristics
Class and type:MV Cape Rise  (T-AKR-9678)
Displacement:32,054 tons[2]
Length:647' 6"[2]
Beam:105' 6"[1][2]
Draft:32' 6"[2]
Propulsion:two Kawasaki-MAN 14V 52/55A diesel engines
1 shaft, 28,000hp[2]
Speed:19.75 kts.[2]

The 648-foot roll-on/roll-off and container ship MV Cape Ray (T-AKR-9679), built in 1977, was previously known as MV Saudi Makkah and MV Seaspeed Asia.[2] She can carry 1,315 containers and has both bow and stern thrusters.[2]

After being acquired in 29 April 1994,[1] MV Cape Ray (T-AKR-9679) was in the Ready Reserve Force.[3] She is generally used to transport vehicles to war zones from the United States.[4]

Syrian weapons destruction

The ship has been outfitted by United States Army civilians with two Field Deployable Hydrolysis Systems designed to neutralize chemical weapons in Syria's arsenal.[4]

The MV Cape Ray (T-AKR-9679) will participate in a United Nations mission to destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.[4][5] Approximately 60 Army civilians will be aboard the vessel when it receives an official order to support this joint mission[4] under the command of Rick Jordan.[6]

On 16 January 2014 the Italian Minister of Infrastructures and Transports, Maurizio Lupi, said that MV Cape Ray will load 530 tons of chemical weapons material in the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria, Italy, from the Danish ship MV Ark Futura.[7] She deployed on 25 June 2014.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive MV Cape Ray (AKR-9679)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Polmar, Norman (2005). The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet (18 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 316. ISBN 978-1591146858. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Delivers Gear to Destroy Syrian Chemical Arms at Sea". Defense Treaty Ready Inspection Readiness Program. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Manning, Lt. Col. Rob. "Army Civilians praised for expertise in support of U.N. mission". U.S. Army. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Beardsley, Steven (9 February 2014). "Syria, Libya show Nunn-Lugar program still vital after more than 20 years". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  6. ↑ Steinhauer, Jennifer (3 January 2014). "U.S. Military Ship Readied for Mission to Destroy Syria’s Chemical Weapons". New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Davies, Lizzy (16 January 2014). "Italian mayor dismayed as port chosen for Syrian chemical weapons transfer". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Cape Ray Leaves Spain to Receive Syrian Materials". www.navy.mil (American Forces Press Service). 25 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
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