SS Denebola (T-AKR-289)

This article is about an Algol-class vehicle cargo ship. For other uses, see Denebola (disambiguation).

SS Denebola (T-AKR 289) is an Algol-class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high speed container ship by Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V. in Rotterdam, Netherlands, hull no. 332, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. and named SS Sea-Land Resource, USCG ON 550723, IMO 7325253.^[1][2] Due to her high operating cost, she was sold to the United States Navy in October 1981 as USNS Denebola (T-AK-289).^[3]

USNS Denebola (T-AKR-289) in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 7 February 1994.
History
United States
Name	SS Denebola
Namesake	Denebola
Owner	United States Maritime Administration
Operator	Keystone Shipping Company
Port of registry	Norfolk, VA
Builder	Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V
Launched	1 November 1973
Acquired	27 October 1981
Identification	IMO number: 7325253 MMSI number: 367190000 Callsign: NDSP
Honors & awards	National Defense Service Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal
Status	Ready Reserve in Boston, Massachusetts
General characteristics
Class & type	Algol-class vehicle cargo ship
Displacement	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	2 × Foster-Wheeler boilers, 875 psi (6,030 kPa) 2 × GE MST-19 steam turbines; 120,000 hp (89,000 kW)
Speed	33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Capacity	700+ military vehicles (including trucks, tanks, and helicopters)
Complement	43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational), 18 civilians (reduced operating status)
Aviation facilities	Landing pad

In keeping with the pattern of the naming the Algol-class ships after bright stars, the Denebola was named after Denebola, the third-brightest star in the constellation Leo.

Conversion

Conversion began on 22 November 1983 at Pennsylvania Shipbuilding in Chester, Pennsylvania. 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 sets of two cranes; one set located at midship capable of lifting 35 tons, and another set located aft capable of lifting 50 tons.^[2] She was delivered to the Military Sealift Command on 10 October 1985 as USNS Denebola (T-AKR 289).^[4]

Service

When not active, Pollux was kept in a reduced operating status due to her high operating cost, initially a ROS-3 (96 hour) and later a ROS-5 (120 hour) activation readiness. ^[5] Denebola took part in the Persian Gulf War in 1990. Along with the other seven Algol class cargo ships, she transported 14 percent of all cargo delivered between the United States and Saudi Arabia during and after the war.^[6] In 1994, Denebola, along with USNS Capella (T-AKR-293), worked with NATO forces on convoy exercises in the Mediterranean.^[6]

On 1 October 2007, Denebola was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration. On 1 October 2008, she was transferred to the Ready Reserve Force, losing her USNS designation.^[6][7]

Together with sistership SS Antares, Denebola were berthed in Baltimore Harbor for many years, however in July 2024 she departed Baltimore harbor bound for the US Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet at Beaumont, Texas.^[8] The vessel remains in ROS-5 (120 hour) activation readiness. If activated, Denebola will report to the Military Sealift Command Atlantic Fleet and change her prefix designation from SS to USNS.^[3]