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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{|{{Infobox Ship Begin}}
{{Infobox Ship Image
{|{{Infobox ship begin
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|Ship image=[[Image:American Explorer.png|290px]]
|Ship caption=''American Explorer''
}}
}}
{{Infobox Ship Career
{{Infobox ship image
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| Ship image = American Explorer.png
|Hide header=
|Ship country=US
| Ship image size = 290px
|Ship flag= {{USN flag}}
| Ship caption = ''American Explorer''
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|Ship ordered=
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|Ship builder= [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]], Pascagoula, MS
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|Ship original cost=
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|Ship laid down=
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|Ship launched=
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|Ship christened=
|Ship acquired= 1958
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
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|Ship in service=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship out of service=
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|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship homeport= Beaumont, Texas
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|Ship fate= To be scrapped
|Ship status = Grounded or sunk in the Industrial Canal?
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|Ship notes =
}}
}}
{{Infobox Ship Characteristics
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
| Hide header =
| Ship country = United States
|Header caption=
|Ship class= Tanker (T5-S-RM2a)
| Ship flag = {{USN flag}}
|Ship tonnage= 14,980 gross
| Ship ordered =
⚫
| Ship builder = [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]], Pascagoula, MS
⚫
|Ship length= 595 ft
|Ship beam= 80 ft
| Ship original cost =
|Ship draught=
| Ship laid down = 9 July 1957
|Ship draft= 36.1 ft
| Ship launched = 11 April 1958
|Ship propulsion=
| Ship christened =
|Ship speed=
| Ship completed = 27 October 1959
|Ship range=
| Ship commissioned =
|Ship complement=
| Ship decommissioned =
|Ship sensors=
| Ship in service =
|Ship EW=
| Ship reclassified =
|Ship armament=
| Ship out of service =
|Ship armor=
| Ship struck =
|Ship armour=
| Ship reinstated =
|Ship nickname= Hull#469
| Ship honours =
|Ship notes=
| Ship homeport = Beaumont, Texas
| Ship identification = {{IMO Number|7737171}}
⚫
| Ship fate = Scrapped
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| Ship notes =
| Ship nickname = Hull# 469
}}{{Infobox ship class overview
| Class after = [[Sealift Pacific-Class tanker|''Sealift Pacific'' class]]
| Class before = [[Maumee-class oiler|''Maumee'' class]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Ship type = [[Type T5 tanker|Type T5-S-RM2a]] [[Tanker (ship)|Tanker]]
| Ship tonnage = {{GT|14,980}}
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| Ship length = {{convert|595|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|80|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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| Ship draught =
| Ship draft = {{convert|36.1|ft|m|abbr=on}}
⚫
| Ship propulsion =
| Ship speed = {{convert|20|knots|lk=in}}
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| Ship range =
| Ship complement = 47
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| Ship sensors =
⚫
| Ship EW =
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| Ship armament =
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| Ship notes =
}}
}}
|}
|}


'''USS ''American Explorer'' (T-AOT-165)''' was a tanker built for of the [[United States Navy]]. The tanker was built by [[Ingalls Shipbuilding|Ingalls SB]] of Mississippi in 1958. The ship was transferred to the US [[Maritime Administration]] in 1984 and was part of the US Reserve Fleet, Beaumont Reserve Fleet, Texas. The ''Explorer'' was sold for scrap on July 8, 2008 to the Southern Scrap Metal Corporation in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].<ref>[http://www.pmars.imsg.com/detail.asp?Ship=203 Basic ship data - American Explorer] Property Management & Archive Record System, Division of Reserve Fleet</ref>
'''USNS ''American Explorer'' (T-AOT-165)''' was a tanker built for the United States [[Military Sea Transport Service]]. The tanker was built by [[Ingalls Shipbuilding|Ingalls SB]] of [[Mississippi]] in 1958, and at the time her [[keel]] was [[Keel laying|laid]], the vessel was intended to be the world's first [[Nuclear propulsion|nuclear-powered]] tanker, but was completed with a conventional steam power plant. The ship was transferred to the US [[Maritime Administration]] in 1984 and was part of the [[Reserve fleet|US Reserve Fleet]], Beaumont Reserve Fleet, Texas. ''American Explorer'' was sold for [[Ship breaking|scrap]] on 8 July 2008 to the Southern Scrap Metal Corporation in [[New Orleans]], Louisiana.<ref>[https://pmars.marad.dot.gov/detail.asp?Ship=203 Basic ship data – American Explorer] Property Management & Archive Record System, Division of Reserve Fleet {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721043815/https://pmars.marad.dot.gov/detail.asp?Ship=203 |date=21 July 2011 }}</ref>
On August 13th, two weeks before [[Hurricane Gustav (2008)|hurricane Gustav]] struck the Southeastern Louisiana coastline, the tanker was moved to New Orleans' [[Industrial Canal]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Shannon Russell|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|title=Two Ships from Beaumont Fleet Sell for $1.6 Million|date=2008-07-16|accessdate=2008-09-05|format=pdf|url=http://marad.dot.gov/Headlines/2008/News%20Releases/marad%2016-08%202%20to%20southern%20scrap.pdf}}</ref>
On 13 August, two weeks before [[Hurricane Gustav]] struck the Southeastern Louisiana coastline, the tanker was moved to New Orleans' [[Industrial Canal]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Shannon Russell |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |title=Two Ships from Beaumont Fleet Sell for $1.6 Million |date=16 July 2008 |access-date=5 September 2008 |format=PDF |url=http://marad.dot.gov/Headlines/2008/News%20Releases/marad%2016-08%202%20to%20southern%20scrap.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912203711/http://marad.dot.gov/Headlines/2008/News%20Releases/marad%2016-08%202%20to%20southern%20scrap.pdf |archive-date=12 September 2008 }}</ref>
[[Image:FloridaAvenueBridge2Up.jpg|left|thumb|The Florida Avenue Bridge was struck and damaged by one of two military ships during hurricane Gustav]]
[[File:FloridaAvenueBridge2Up.jpg|left|thumb|The Florida Avenue Bridge was struck and damaged by one of two military ships during Hurricane Gustav]]

⚫
== Adrift during Hurricane Gustav ==
⚫
During the night of 31 August/1 September 2008, as [[Hurricane Gustav]] approached the coast of Louisiana, two clusters ({{ship||Export Courier}}) of ships were dislodged from their moorings and broke free. ''American Explorer'' was shown in video coverage to be one of two military vessels (along with the former US Navy submarine tender {{USS|Hunley|AS-31|2}}) that ran into the [[Florida Avenue Bridge]].
⚫
<ref>[http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/hold_please.html Coast Guard trying to secure a barge and two vessels in the Industrial Canal] by Michelle Krupa, The Times-Picayune Monday 1 September 2008, 10:10&nbsp;am – nola.com</ref> After hitting the bridge, the ships then ran into two concrete pile-barriers that protect pump station No. 19, which serves the 9th ward of New Orleans.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080905111642/http://blogs.tampabay.com/weather/2008/09/derelict-vessel.html Derelict vessels pinned down in Industrial Canal] – Willie J. Allen Jr., Times staff writer – Posted by Times Editor at 5:29:56&nbsp;pm on 1 September 2008 – Storm Watch – Tampabay.com</ref> A United States Coast Guard (USCG) tug<!-- name? --> eventually pinned the ships into position so that they would not move. Joel Dupree of Southern Scrap Metal Corporation claims the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] were testing docks on the Industrial canal which prevented moving the ships prior to Gustav entering the Mississippi River, and that the ''American Explorer'' was properly anchored during the storm.<ref>[http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/mooring_plan_under_fire_follow.html Mooring plan under fire following Industrial Canal wreckage episode] Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking – Nola.com</ref> However, the level of the [[storm surge|surge]] and winds were sufficient to break their moorings.<ref name="Joel Dupree speaks">[http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000055?v=3432690&l=3443196 Joel Dupre from Southern Scrap updates on the barges and ship that ran aground in the Industrial] New Orleans – Update on barges in Industrial Canal – Yahoo-local news {{dead link|date=May 2014}}</ref> The USCG, however, said that it had recommended that ships double-up mooring lines prior to the storm.<ref>[http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/two_groups_of_ships_broke_loos.html Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking] Nola.Com</ref> Shortly after the peak of the storm, reporters for a local radio station<!-- what station?--> went to the Florida Avenue bridge and reported the damage as being minor.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}


Another naval ship, the former US Navy cargo ship {{USNS|Courier|T-AK-5019|2}}, and two barges were involved in separate [[Gustav Incidents|incidents]] at the [[Almonaster Avenue Bridge|Almonaster rail bridge]] and a nearby pump station. As a consequence of these events, ''all vessels to be removed from the Industrial Canal in advance of gale-force wind conditions'', and Southern Scrap Metal Corporation was told to remove all floating vessels for the duration of the [[2008 Atlantic hurricane season|2008 season]].<ref>[http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/09/industrial_canal_would_have_be.html Ships and barges ordered from Industrial Canal for rest of 2008 Atlantic hurricane season] ''Industrial Canal would have been safe if Ike had approached, Coast Guard commander says'' by Sheila Grissett, The Times-Picayune
<!----Discuss first on talk page before altering section------->
Thursday 18 September 2008, 5:57&nbsp;pm Nola.com</ref> A US Coast Guard Investigation has been launched into the corporation's activities prior to Gustav.<ref>[http://www.realclearmarkets.com/news/ap/finance_business/2008/Sep/16/loose_storm_barges_in_new_orleans_from_one_company.html Loose storm barges in New Orleans from one company] The Associated Press – 16 September 2008</ref>
⚫
==Adrift and sunk during Gustav==
⚫
During the night of August 31, 2008 or early morning of September 1, 2008, as Gustav approached the coast of Louisiana, two clusters ([[Export Courier]]) of ships were dislodged from their moorings and broke free. The ''American Explorer'' was shown in video coverage to be one of two military vessels (along with [[USS Hunley (AS-31)]]) that ran into the [[Florida Avenue Bridge]].
⚫
<ref> [http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/hold_please.html Coast Guard trying to secure a barge and two vessels in the Industrial Canal] by Michelle Krupa, The Times-Picayune Monday September 01, 2008, 10:10 AM - nola.com</ref> After hitting the bridge the ships then ran into two concrete pile-barriers that protect pump station #19 that serves the 9th ward of New Orleans.<ref> [http://blogs.tampabay.com/weather/2008/09/derelict-vessel.html Derelict vessels pinned down in Industrial Canal] -- Willie J. Allen Jr., Times staff writer - Posted by Times Editor at 5:29:56 PM on September 1, 2008 - Storm Watch - Tampabay.com</ref> A US Coast Guard tug eventually pinned the ships into position so that they would not move. Joel Dupree of Southern Scrap Metal Corporation claims the Corps of Engineers were testing docks on the Industrial canal that prevented moving the ships prior to Gustav entering the Mississippi River, and that the ''American Explorer'' was properly anchored during the storm.<ref> [http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/mooring_plan_under_fire_follow.html Mooring plan under fire following Industrial Canal wreckage episode] Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking - Nola.com</ref> However, the level of the surge and winds were sufficient to break their moorings.<ref name = "Joel Dupree speaks">[http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000055?v=3432690&l=3443196 Joel Dupre from Southern Scrap updates on the barges and ship that ran aground in the Industrial] New Orleans - Update on barges in Industrial Canal - Yahoo-local news</ref> The USCG however said that it had recommended that ships double-up mooring lines prior to the storm.<ref>[http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/two_groups_of_ships_broke_loos.html Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking] Nola.Com</ref> Shortly after the peak of the storm reporters for a local radio station went to the Florida Avenue bridge and reported the damage as being minor.


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:American Explorer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:American Explorer}}
[[Category:National Defense Reserve Fleet]]
[[Category:Type T5 tankers]]
[[Category:1958 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Pascagoula, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2008]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2008]]
[[Category:Tankers of the United States]]
[[Category:Unique oilers and tankers of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Beaumont Reserve Fleet]]

Latest revision as of 18:51, 11 July 2024

American Explorer
History
United States
BuilderIngalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS
Laid down9 July 1957
Launched11 April 1958
Completed27 October 1959
HomeportBeaumont, Texas
IdentificationIMO number: 7737171
Nickname(s)Hull# 469
FateScrapped
Class overview
Preceded byMaumee class
Succeeded bySealift Pacific class
General characteristics
TypeType T5-S-RM2a Tanker
Tonnage14,980 GT
Length595 ft (181 m)
Beam80 ft (24 m)
Draft36.1 ft (11.0 m)
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement47

USNS American Explorer (T-AOT-165) was a tanker built for the United States Military Sea Transport Service. The tanker was built by Ingalls SB of Mississippi in 1958, and at the time her keel was laid, the vessel was intended to be the world's first nuclear-powered tanker, but was completed with a conventional steam power plant. The ship was transferred to the US Maritime Administration in 1984 and was part of the US Reserve Fleet, Beaumont Reserve Fleet, Texas. American Explorer was sold for scrap on 8 July 2008 to the Southern Scrap Metal Corporation in New Orleans, Louisiana.[1] On 13 August, two weeks before Hurricane Gustav struck the Southeastern Louisiana coastline, the tanker was moved to New Orleans' Industrial Canal.[2]

The Florida Avenue Bridge was struck and damaged by one of two military ships during Hurricane Gustav

Adrift during Hurricane Gustav

[edit]

During the night of 31 August/1 September 2008, as Hurricane Gustav approached the coast of Louisiana, two clusters (Export Courier) of ships were dislodged from their moorings and broke free. American Explorer was shown in video coverage to be one of two military vessels (along with the former US Navy submarine tender Hunley) that ran into the Florida Avenue Bridge. [3] After hitting the bridge, the ships then ran into two concrete pile-barriers that protect pump station No. 19, which serves the 9th ward of New Orleans.[4] A United States Coast Guard (USCG) tug eventually pinned the ships into position so that they would not move. Joel Dupree of Southern Scrap Metal Corporation claims the Corps of Engineers were testing docks on the Industrial canal which prevented moving the ships prior to Gustav entering the Mississippi River, and that the American Explorer was properly anchored during the storm.[5] However, the level of the surge and winds were sufficient to break their moorings.[6] The USCG, however, said that it had recommended that ships double-up mooring lines prior to the storm.[7] Shortly after the peak of the storm, reporters for a local radio station went to the Florida Avenue bridge and reported the damage as being minor.[citation needed]

Another naval ship, the former US Navy cargo ship Courier, and two barges were involved in separate incidents at the Almonaster rail bridge and a nearby pump station. As a consequence of these events, all vessels to be removed from the Industrial Canal in advance of gale-force wind conditions, and Southern Scrap Metal Corporation was told to remove all floating vessels for the duration of the 2008 season.[8] A US Coast Guard Investigation has been launched into the corporation's activities prior to Gustav.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Basic ship data – American Explorer Property Management & Archive Record System, Division of Reserve Fleet Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Shannon Russell (16 July 2008). "Two Ships from Beaumont Fleet Sell for $1.6 Million" (PDF). U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  3. ^ Coast Guard trying to secure a barge and two vessels in the Industrial Canal by Michelle Krupa, The Times-Picayune Monday 1 September 2008, 10:10 am – nola.com
  4. ^ Derelict vessels pinned down in Industrial Canal – Willie J. Allen Jr., Times staff writer – Posted by Times Editor at 5:29:56 pm on 1 September 2008 – Storm Watch – Tampabay.com
  5. ^ Mooring plan under fire following Industrial Canal wreckage episode Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking – Nola.com
  6. ^ Joel Dupre from Southern Scrap updates on the barges and ship that ran aground in the Industrial New Orleans – Update on barges in Industrial Canal – Yahoo-local news [dead link‍]
  7. ^ Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking Nola.Com
  8. ^ Ships and barges ordered from Industrial Canal for rest of 2008 Atlantic hurricane season Industrial Canal would have been safe if Ike had approached, Coast Guard commander says by Sheila Grissett, The Times-Picayune Thursday 18 September 2008, 5:57 pm Nola.com
  9. ^ Loose storm barges in New Orleans from one company The Associated Press – 16 September 2008
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