SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051)/Ex-Texas Clipper IV

 military, ship, cargo, auxiliary, United States Navy

Laid down in early 1968 at Newport News Shipbuilding as the type C5-S-75a breakbulk cargo ship SS Indian Mail and delivered for service with American Mail Lines later in the same year, this ship plied the commercial trades for over twenty years with American Mail and American President Lines before she was turned over to the US Maritime Administration in 1988 for a newbuild.

Placed into MARAD's Ready Reserve Fleet, the former Indian Mail/President Jackson was selected for conversion to a Cape G Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship, and entered service as the SS Cape Gibson (AK-5051) in 1989. Layberthed with her sistership SS Cape Girardeau (AK-2039) (ex-SS Alaskan Mail/President Adams) at Alameda Naval Station, she formed part of the Military Sealift Command's six Modular Cargo Delivery System Ships operated by the Maritime Administration as part of the MSC's Emergency Sealift Fleet.

Remaining in ROS-5 status for the next twenty years and making regular deployments as part of fleet exercises and as a cargo transport during the First Gulf War, the Cape Gibson was eventually downgraded from the Ready Reserve Fleet and placed into emergency reserve at Suisun Bay in November 2008. Likely slated for full deactivation and scrapping in the next decade, the Cape Gibson was granted a reprieve when in October 2009 the she was assigned to the Texas Maritime Academy to replace the former USNS Sirius as the school's ship.

Departing the Suisun Bay Fleet on October 1st, 2009 she arrived in Galveston to begin her new role as the T/S Texas Clipper IV on October 19th, 2009, which she performed until being returned to MARAD at the completion of the 2011 cruise season. Resuming her former name of SS Cape Gibson, the former Texas Clipper was relocated to the MARAD Beaumont Reserve Fleet where she is currently being stripped of reusable materials in advance of her eventual scrap sale. She has been replaced in her role by the former US Merchant Marine Academy training vessel Kings Pointer, formerly the USNS Contender (T-AGOS-2), which now serves as the T/S General Rudder.

www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/739
www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AK5051.htm
www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/135051.htm