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

The Paul Buck harbored next to an Ice breaker in Polar Bear Bay

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

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