Keystone_State-class_crane_ship

<i>Keystone State</i>-class crane ship

Keystone State-class crane ship

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The Keystone State-class crane ships are seven auxiliary crane ships of the U.S. Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Force. The ships can be quickly activated to support military sea transportation needs. These self-sustaining ships are useful in ports that have limited, damaged or undeveloped port facilities. When activated, they come under operational control of Military Sealift Command.

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Description

The crane ships are converted container ships with three twin boom pedestal cranes which can lift containers or other cargo from themselves or adjacent vessels and deposit the cargo on a pier or lighterage.

History

The US Navy converted ten cargo ships to crane ships, three Gopher State class and seven Keystone State class, the first of which was completed in 1984 and the last of which was completed in 1997. Five of the ships were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1990–91. USNS Gopher State acted as a temporary Army prepositioning ship in 1994. Four of the ten ships have been deactivated and transferred to the reserve fleet.

General characteristics

  • Builder: Defoe SB Co, Bay City; Dillingham SR, Portland; Norshipco, Norfolk; Tampa SY; Keith Ship Repair, New Orleans
  • Propulsion: 2 boilers; 2 GE turbines; 19,250 hp; 1 shaft.
  • Length: 668.6 feet.
  • Beam: 76.1 feet
  • Displacement: 31,500 tons(32,005.52 metric tons) full load
  • Speed: 20 knots
  • Crew: 89 civilians
  • Load: 300+ standard containers

List of ships

References

    Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Navy.
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