USNS Pollux (T-AKR-290)

USNS Pollux (T-AK-290), later T-AKR-290, the fourth United States Navy ship of the name, is an Algol-class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) as SS Pollux (T-AKR-290).

For other ships with the same name, see USS Pollux.
USNS Pollux (T-AKR-290) in the port of Pusan, South Korea. Pollux is loading vehicles onto a United States Army Logistics Support Vessel (LSV) which will then transport them to shore.
History
United States of America
Name: USNS Pollux
Namesake: Pollux, the southern of two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, twin star of Castor
Operator:  United States Navy
Builder: A.G. Weser
Launched: 1 May 1973
Completed: 1 September 1973 (delivered to Sea-Land as SS Sealand Market))
Acquired: 16 November 1981
In service: probably ca. 16 November 1981
Out of service: probably ca. 28 July 1984
In service: probably ca. 31 March 1986
Out of service: 1 October 2007
Identification:
Honors and
awards:
Status:
General characteristics
Class and type: Algol class vehicle cargo ship
Displacement:
  • 29692 tons (light)
  • 55,355 tons (full)
Length: 946 ft 2 in (288 m)
Beam: 105 ft 6 in (32 m)
Draft: 36 ft 4 in (11 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 33 knots
Capacity: 700+ military vehicles (including trucks, tanks, and helicopters)
Complement: 43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational), 18 civilians (reduced operating status)
Armament: None
Aviation facilities: Landing pad

In keeping with the pattern of the naming the Algol-class ships after bright stars, the Pollux was named after Pollux, a star in the northern constellation of Gemini.

Construction and early career

The ship was built as the high speed container ship SS Sea-Land Market, USCG ON 550721, IMO 7319632, by A.G. Weser in Bremen, West Germany, hull no. 1384, for Sea-Land Service, Inc..[1][2] Launched on 1 May 1973, she was delivered to Sea-Land on 1 September 1973.[3] Due to her high operating cost, she proved uneconomical for commercial use. Sea-Land sold her to the United States Navy on 16 November 1981.[4]

The U.S. Navy classified the ship as a cargo ship (AK), assigned her to the Military Sealift Command for non-commissioned service, and renamed her USNS Pollux (T-AK-290). In September 1992, the Navy reclassified her as roll-on/roll-off vehicle cargo ship and redesignated her as T-AKR-290.

Conversion

Pollux's conversion into a vehicle cargo ship began on 28 July 1984 at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her cargo hold was redesigned into a series of decks connected by ramps so vehicles can be driven into and out of the cargo hold for fast loading and unloading. She was also fitted with two pairs of cranes, one pair amidships capable of lifting 35 long tons (36 t), and the other pair aft capable of lifting 50 long tons (51 t).[2] When her conversion was complete, Avondale delivered her to the Military Sealift Command on 31 March 1986.[5]

Service

When not active, Pollux was kept in a reduced operating status due to her high operating cost. If needed, she could be activated and ready to move in 96 hours.[6]

Pollux took part in the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991. Along with the other seven Algol class vehicle cargo ships, she transported 14 percent of all cargo transported between the United States and Saudi Arabia during and after the war.[7]

She is currently in Boston's Dry Dock Number 3 as of 10/28/14.

As of 1/23/18 http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:455429/mmsi:368989000/imo:7319632/vessel:POLLUX

Transfer to Maritime Administration and Ready Reserve Force
Pollux in Boston's Dry Dock Number 3 in October 2014

On 1 October 2007, Pollux was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration. On 1 October 2008, she was transferred to the Ready Reserve Force, losing her "USNS" designation, and laid up at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[7][8] She can be reactivated in five days when needed.[3] If activated again, Pollux will report to the Military Sealift Command.[4]

References
  1. Cudahay 206 p. 265
  2. 'USNS Pollux (T-AKR 290)', retrieved 8 April 2009
  3. NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive SS Pollux (AKR-290) ex-USNS Pollux (T-AKR-290) (1982-2007) ex-USNS Pollux (T-AK-290) (1981-1982)
  4. Ready Reserve Force Ships, retrieved 8 April 2009
  5. 'Service Ship Photo Archive: SS Pollux (AKR-290)', retrieved 8 April 2009
  6. Cargo - Fast Sealift - Support (FSS), Specialized, archived from the original on 14 May 2011, retrieved 8 April 2009
  7. 'U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command: Fact Sheet', December 2003, retrieved 8 April 2009
  8. 'Fast Sealift Ships - T-AKR', 22 January 2008, retrieved 8 April 2009
  • Cudahay, Brian J. (2006). Box Boats: How Container Ships Changed the World. Fordham University Press. ISBN 9780823225699.
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