Four Large Vessels Depart the Baltimore Harbor

If you spend any time near the waterfront or cruising around in the harbor, you’ve probably seen large vessels stationed in Locust Point, Port Covington, and Canton. In the last few days four of these vessels have departed the harbor. One of the vessels, which is currently used by the United States Navy, SS Wright (Canton), departed for Philadelphia to receive repairs. The other three vessels, SS Denebola (Locust Point), SS Antares (Locust Point), and Cape Wrath (Port Covington) are commissioned by the Merchant Marines and are currently out conducting training exercises.  

Update: 8/19, 7:50pm

One of our well-informed readers on Facebook let us know that more information about the three ships conducting training exercises, the SS Denebola, SS Antares, and Cape Wrath can be found at this link.  The exercises will end between August 20th and August 23rd.  From the release:

Thirteen military cargo ships from the East, West and Gulf coasts have activated as part of U.S. Transportation Command’s Turbo Activation Exercise Series.

Turbo Activation is a no-notice test of how well and how quickly the seven civilian companies who manage the ships can bring them from reduced operating status to full operating status within a specified period of time. USTRANSCOM conducts such exercises seven times each year.

USTRANSCOM initiated Turbo Activation 20 years ago to ensure the military ships could activate rapidly to support the worldwide deployment of military forces and equipment as well as initial resupply during the critical surge period of any contingency. In total, the reserve fleet consists of 46 Ready Reserve Force ships managed by the Maritime Administration and 14 Surge Sealift Fleet ships managed by USTRANSCOM’s Navy component, Military Sealift Command

“Turbo Activation is an important test of our nation’s ability to quickly respond to global contingency and humanitarian assistance requirements and support the U.S. military, around the world,” said Vice Adm. Andy Brown, USTRANSCOM’s deputy commander.

“The RRF and Surge Fleet ships and their civilian merchant mariners are vitally important Department of Defense assets, critical to national defense,” he said.

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.