Bremerhaven: T-AKR 112 "Cape Texas" is the old "Reichenfels"

Painted grey and for years part of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) of the US Department of Transportation, the "Cape Texas", or in military terms: T-AKR 112, appeared modest and inconspicuous. She had moored in Kaiserhafen III on the Weser, not far from the terminal of the US armed forces in the north of Bremerhaven, which is still well known from the Cold War era. Coming from Charleston (South Carolina), she had delivered a number of military vehicles to Europe, the final destination of which was not specified, but in the current situation should not be difficult to guess.

Ready Reserve Force Roll-on/Roll-off MV Cape Texas (T-AKR 112). Photo: U.S. Navy

The classically cut, elegant and dignified ship has an interesting story to tell: 45 years ago, still belonging to the shipping company DDG-Hansa (Deutsche-Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft) in Bremen, she was known as the "Reichenfels". The 193 metre long ship was developed in 1977 at the Howaldswerke Deutsche Werft shipyard in Kiel specifically for use between Europe and the Persian Gulf and was also built by HDW together with her sister ship MV "Rheinfels". At the same time, the MV "Rauenfels" was built in Japan in Sasebo according to the same plans. A special feature of these ships was a 35 metre long, folding stern ramp leading to the 8,000 square metres of loading area, which could be swivelled sideways by a good 30 degrees and withstood a maximum load of 160 tonnes in roll-on/roll-off operation. In addition, over 300 further 20-foot container equivalents could be stowed on the upper deck - in other words, a con-ro ship.

However, the "Reichenfels" only operated for a short three years for the Bremen shipping company, which, as one of the world's most important freight companies, had to file for bankruptcy in 1980 and lay up or sell its fleet. The "Reichenfels" remained in Baltimore/USA, but was sold on in the USA just a few months later. As the MV "Lyra", she travelled between the USA and Europe for the American Lykes Line until 1993 and was then sold to the US Department of Transportation as a logistical transport ship for military goods. The DoT also bought both sister ships, which are still in service today as the Cape T class. Belonging to the RRF, they are in reserve status - in larger containers with many other formerly commercially operated ships along the US coast, especially in Norfolk (Virginia) and Houston (Texas). They wait unloaded for their deployment and must be available, loaded and ready for sea within 5, 10 or 20 days for the US Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC). This is why they are permanently manned by a dozen people. As a short-term reactive element, they supplement the Maritime Prepositioning Programme, under which ships loaded with military equipment are pre-positioned at strategic points around the world.

MV Cape Texas (T-AKR 112) in Ash Shuaiba, Kuwait, 2005 Photo: U.S. Navy/R.Brunson

This was also the case this time, when the "Cape Texas" was ordered back to her old home with military cargo. This will probably have done the ship with the classic lines some good, because anyone who has ever travelled by sea knows that ships also have a soul.

Here for the sake of completeness:

T-AKR 112, "Cape Texas" formerly MV Reichenfels (1977, HDW, Kiel)

T-AKR 113 "Cape Taylor", formerly MV Rauenfels (1977, Sasebo Heavy Industries, Japan)

T-AKR 9711, "Cape Trinity", formerly MV Rheinfels (1977, HDW, Kiel)