USNS Paul Buck (T-AOT-1122)
 Paul Buck anchoring off Antarctica | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name: | USNS Paul Buck |
| Builder: | American Ship Building Company, Tampa, Florida |
| Laid down: | 1985 |
| Launched: | 7 July 1985 |
| Completed: | as Ocean Champion |
| Acquired: | by US Navy 11 September 1985 |
| In service: | 11 September 1985 |
| Out of service: | 30 June 2010 |
| Struck: | 30 June 2010 |
| Fate: | Transferred to the Maritime Administration. Conversion to a Training Ship. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Oil Products Tanker Champion Class T-5 Tanker |
| Displacement: | 21,470 tons full 39624 tons |
| Length: | 615 |
| Beam: | 90 ft |
| Draft: | 24'8 ft |
| Installed power: | Sulzer 5RTA76 diesel (18,400 hp sustained) |
| Propulsion: | Single shaft |
| Speed: | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Capacity: | 237,766 bbls |
| Complement: | 24 Civilians |
| Armament: | unarmed |
| Aircraft carried: | none |
USNS Paul Buck (T-AOT-1122) was originally constructed in 1985 by American Ship building Company, Tampa, Florida for Ocean Product Tankers of Houston for a long term charter to the United States Navy and operated by Military Sealift Command. The ship was delivered on 7 July 1985. It is a T-5 Tanker. The ship was named after Merchant Marine Paul Buck, who was awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal.
Antarctic missions
Paul Buck made frequent deliveries of fuel to the Antarctic for resupply. This was the most common route that this ship made delivering a variety of fuel types to the base. It was always escorted by an ice breaker.
Paul Buck went out of service in June 2010 and was transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal. Paul Buck is now awaiting bids to be converted to a Training Ship for SUNY Maritime College. General plans of the converted ship have been submitted to the College for review.
Conversion to T/S Empire State VII
In September 2012, general plans were submitted to MARAD and SUNY Maritime College for the conversion of the USNS Paul Buck to the Empire State VII. For a time, these plans were put on hold and no further discussions regarding conversions or purpose-built ships were made. In 2014 MARAD reopened the conversion plans and SUNY Maritime College's new President, Rear Admiral Michael Alfutis stated that one of his long-term goals for the school would be to acquire a new training ship within the next four to six years. A series of sea trials conducted on the T.S. Empire State VI in August 2014 concluded that she had a useful life of at least another five years.
References
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
External links
- Photo gallery at navsource.org
- Tanker USNS Paul Buck at the Ice Pier at scottafar.com
- USNS Paul Buck Delivers to McMurdo at Seafarers International Union