Algol-class vehicle cargo ship
The Algol-class vehicle cargo ships, also known as Fast Sealift Ships or SL-7s, are currently the fastest conventional steam powered cargo ships in the world that are still operating, capable of speeds in excess of. Originally built in 1972 and 1973 as high-speed container ships known as SL-7s for SeaLand, the ships' high operating costs limited their profitability. All eight ships were acquired by the United States Navy in 1981 and 1982, with the last ship converted, delivered to and placed in service with Military Sealift Command in 1986. The conversion entailed the installation of four cranes, addition of roll on/roll off capability and a redesign of the cargo hold to better facilitate storage of vehicles. All ships are named after bright stars in the night sky.
Due largely to their high cost of operation, all fast sealift ships were kept in Reduced Operating Status while in MSC Custody, initially in ROS-3 and later ROS-5 activation readiness status.
Service
All eight ships took part in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, delivering thirteen percent of all the cargo transported between the United States and Saudi Arabia during and after the Persian Gulf War. Fast sealift ships have taken part in Operations Restore Hope, Joint Guardian, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in addition to humanitarian relief efforts across the globe. On 1 October 2007, the United States Maritime Administration began operating all eight FSS. All eight were transferred to the Ready Reserve on 1 October 2008. At this time their USNS designations were replaced with SS designations as they were no longer US Navy ships.Commencing in February 2024, the Maritime Administration began to consolidate the Algol Class to the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Beaumont, TX from their previous homeports in preparation for their removal from the Ready Reserve Fleet. Shortly thereafter the agency began announcing the planned deactivation and scrap sale dates for select vessels as they phase out of active reserve service.
Antares propulsion failure
Before Operation Desert Storm an engine failed.From GlobalSecurity.org:
Unfortunately, one FSS, the Antares, failed off the East coast of the United States with a considerable amount of the 24th Infantry Division equipment and 100 soldiers aboard. The ship was towed to Rota, Spain by the ocean-going tugboat Apache. Some of the cargo was airlifted to Saudi Arabia but most had to be unloaded and reloaded by the soldiers and Seabees aboard the FSS USNS Altaire returning from her initial voyage. This cargo arrived about three weeks later than planned.
Fast Sealift Ships
- SS Algol
- SS Bellatrix Transferred to Brownsville, Texas for scrapping October 2025
- SS Denebola
- SS Pollux - Planned deactivation 4th Quarter of 2025, Scrap Sale 2nd Quarter of 2026.
- SS Altair Transferred to Brownsville, Texas for scrapping October 2025
- SS Regulus
- SS Capella
- SS Antares - Planned deactivation 4th Quarter of 2025, Scrap Sale 2nd Quarter of 2026.
| Name | hull# | Builder | original name | Launched | Acquired | IMO #: | MMSI #: | callsign |
| Algol | T-AKR-287 | Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V | SS Sea-Land Exchange | 1-Sep-72 | Oct-81 | 7303205 | 368992000 | NAMW |
| Bellatrix | T-AKR-288 | Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V | SS Sea-Land Trade | 1-Feb-73 | 13-Oct-81 | 7236153 | 368991000 | NHLL |
| Denebola | T-AKR-289 | Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V | SS Sea-Land Resource | 1-Nov-73 | 27-Oct-81 | 7325253 | 367190000 | NDSP |
| Pollux | T-AKR-290 | A.G. Weser | SS Sea-Land Market | 1-May-73 | 16-Nov-81 | 7319632 | 368989000 | NMVG |
| Altair | T-AKR-291 | Rheinstahl Nordseewerke | SS Sea-Land Finance | 1-Apr-73 | 5-Jan-82 | 7315571 | 368988000 | NRZA |
| Regulus | T-AKR-292 | A.G. Weser | SS Sea-Land Commerce | 1-Dec-73 | 27-Oct-81 | 7302897 | 366987000 | NLWA |
| Capella | T-AKR-293 | Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V. | SS Sea-Land McLean | 1-Sep-72 | 16-Apr-82 | 7223508 | 367186000 | NBXO |
| Antares | T-AKR-294 | A.G. Weser, Bremen | SS Sea-Land Galloway | 1-May-72 | 16-Apr-82 | 7226897 | 367185000 | NPEJ |