MV Cape Taylor

MV Cape Taylor (T-AKR-113) is a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ship with the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) of the United States Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD).^[4] As of 31 December 2014^[update], her homeport is the Port of Houston in Houston, Texas, and she is on ROS-5 status; she is able to be fully operational within 5 days of being activated.^[1] When activated, she becomes part of the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC).^[6]

Cape Taylor at sea
History
Name	MV Cape Taylor (T-AKR-113)
Owner	United States Department of Transportation
Operator	United States Maritime Administration
Builder	Sasebo Heavy Industries, Sasebo, Japan
Launched	8 July 1977
Acquired	15 March 1993
In service	27 July 1994
Homeport	Houston, Texas
Identification	IMO number: 7603497 MMSI number: 366778000 Callsign: WZSB
Status	RRF; ROS-5 status
Notes	When activated, Cape Taylor comes under the operational control of the Military Sealift Command.[1]
General characteristics [2] [3] [4] [5]
Class & type	Cape T-class Roll-on/roll-off (Vehicle Carrier) ship
Displacement	26,456 long tons (26,881 t)
Length	634 ft 3 in (193.3 m)[a]
Beam	88 ft 7 in (27.0 m)
Height	163 ft 5 in (49.8 m)
Draft	28 ft 4 in (8.6 m)
Installed power	18,980 bhp (14.15 MW)
Propulsion	2 × MAN 9L 52/55A heavy oil Diesel Engines with one Propeller
Speed	20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph)
Range	22,600 nautical miles (41,900 km) @ 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Crew	10 civilians in reserve status;[6] 26 civilians when activated[b]

Design and construction

Stern view ramp loading military vehicles

The vessel now known as Cape Taylor was laid down by Sasebo Heavy Industries in Sasebo, Japan in 1977.^[2] She is a conventional RO/RO (Vehicle Carrier) ship with the superstructure aft, followed by twin funnels, and a stern ramp.^[2] She is 634 ft 3 in (193.3 m) in overall length with a lightweight displacement of 12,141 long tons (12,336 t) and a fully loaded displacement of 26,456 long tons (26,881 t). For carrying US Army and Marine Corps combat vehicles, she has 88,136 sq ft (8,188.1 m²) of cargo capacity.^[5] She can carry 340 containers plus vehicles and her hull is ice strengthened.^[2]

Service history

Commercial service

She was launched on 8 July 1977 and began service with DDG Hansa Line as MV Rabenfels.^[3] In 1981, the vessel was sold to Lykes Lines who operated her as MV Cygnus.^[4] There are also records of her being named MV ASL Cygnus (1992) and MV Thakwini (1993)^[3] or MV ASL Cygnus Thakwini.^[1]

US Government service

Cape Taylor was purchased by the US Government in 1992 and acquired on 15 March 1993.^[4] On 19 August 1994, she was transferred to MARAD and became part of the Ready Reserve Fleet.^[3]

On 23 January 2003, Cape Taylor was activated and placed "In Service" from the Ready Reserve Force to haul military cargo to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 6 June 2003, she was placed "Out of Service" and returned to her Ready Reserve Force lay berth in Houston on a four-day recall status. The Ship is Currently managed by Patriot Contract Services.^[4]

On 4 July 2025, Cape Taylor was docked in the Boston Marine Industrial Park. Ship tracking sites indicate she has been in Boston since March.