Cape Alava AK 5012

Cape A Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
Laid down in 1962 as SS African Comet a Maritime Administration type (C4-S-58a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 103) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS.
Launched in 1962
Delivered to Farrell Lines, 22 August 1962
Title transfer, 17 December 1979, to the Maritime Administration Trade-in and Build Program
Bare-bottom charter by Farrell Lines, 17 December 1979
Returned to the MARAD, 11 April 1980, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
Named changed to SS Comet, 4 August 1980
Renamed, SS Cape Alava, 30 December 1980, assigned to the MARAD Ready Reserve Force, designated (AK-5012)
When activated SS Cape Alava (AK-5012) was assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as one of the Military Sealift Command's Modular Cargo Delivery System Ready Reserve Force )RRF) Ships
SS Cape Alava (AK-5012) could be activated in 30 days
Downgraded from RRF, 1 October 2001, and laid up in the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.