The SIU recently added four more ships to its contracted fleet: a freighter, a chemical carrier, a special mission vessel and an LMSR.The newest vessel is the USNS Benavidez, part of the Bob Hope class of large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off vessels sailing in the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet. The Benavidez is expected to arrive in Corpus Christi, Texas this month.
Built at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans, the Benavidez is 950 long, 106 feet wide and can sail at 24 knots. It is named after the late Vietnam War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Roy P. Benavidez.
Seafarers are sailing in the steward department aboard the new LMSR, which is operated by Patriot. On the other three newly contracted ships, the SIU fills all unlicensed positions.
The Observation Island also is part of MSC’s fleet and is the agency’s lone missile range instrumentation ship. Operated by Maersk Line, Limited, the Observation Island 564 feet long, 76 feet wide and can sail at 20 knots.
According to MSC, the Observation Island “operates worldwide, monitoring compliance with strategic arms treaties and supporting U.S. military weapons test programs. Observation Island carries an Air Force shipborne phased-array radar system for collecting data on missile tests. The ship is operated by Military Sealift Command for the U.S. Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.”
Also new to the Seafarers fleet is the MV Virginian, operated by Sealift Tankships. The 480-foot freighter was built in Germany in 1983. It features a diesel propulsion system that provides 16,320 hp.
Finally, Seafarers are sailing aboard the Chemical Pioneer, operated by USCS Chemical Chartering LLC. The ship is 688 feet long and is equipped with 48 cargo tanks.
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