Newest Navy Crane Ship Christened 'Diamond State' At Tampa Shipyards

The U.S. Navy christened its newest crane ship, the SS Diamond State (T-ACS-7) at ceremonies at Tampa Shipyards, Tampa, Fla. The ship, named for the state of Delaware, will be operated by the Navy's Military Sealift Command.

With a draft of 33 feet 3 inches and deadweight at her loadline of 15,138 long tons, the 668-foot-long by 76-foot-wide Diamond State will join six other crane ships providing improved crane capability for the U.S. Navy. The vessels are designed to unload cargo from other ships at ports where shore facilities are unavailable.

The ships can also unload cargo from ships offshore onto barges, floating causeways, or smaller faster craft that can enter shallow- water ports.

Tampa Shipyards converted the Diamond State from a containership under a $43-million, two-ship conversion contract from the U.S.

Navy. Modifications to the vessel included the installation of three twin-boom cargo cranes with two 1,640-kw diesel generators to provide electrical power to operate them, a cargo crane control room, changes to the cargo holds, installation of ballast and 32 small craft mooring fittings on the ship's hull above the waterline. Tampa is also currently converting the USS Equality State to a MSC crane ship.

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Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 31, Mar 1989

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.