MV Gary I. Gordon

History
United States
Name	USNS Gordon
Namesake	Gary Gordon
Operator	Military Sealift Command
Builder	Burmeister & Wain Shipyard Denmark
Launched	12 September 1972
Completed	1 June 1973
In service	23 August 1996
Renamed	Built as MV Jutlandia in 1972
Stricken	26 April 2023
Identification	IMO number: 7234430 MMSI number: 367834000 Callsign: NAKL
Status	Stricken
General characteristics
Class and type	Gordon-class roll on roll off vehicle cargo ship
Displacement	32,589 t.(lt) 65,000 t.(fl)
Length	954 ft (291 m)
Beam	105 ft 9 in (32.23 m)
Draft	36 ft (11 m)
Propulsion	1 × Burmeister & Wain 12K84EF diesel 26,000 hp(m) (19.11 MW) 2 × Burmeister & Wain 9K84EF diesels, 39,000 hp(m) (28.66 MW) 3 shafts (center cp prop) bow thruster
Speed	24 knots (44 km/h)
Capacity	284,064 sq ft (26,390.4 m^2) 49,991 sq ft (4,644.3 m^2) deck cargo
Complement	12 reduced / up to 45 full, civilian mariners 50 US Navy personnel

MV Gary I. Gordon, formerly USNS Gordon (T-AKR-296), is a Gordon-class roll on roll off vehicle cargo ship of the United States Navy. She was originally built as a merchant vessel, acquired and converted by the Navy, and was assigned to the United States Department of Defense's Military Sealift Command.^[1] As of April 2023, the ship was part of the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) Ready Reserve Force (RRF).

Gordon was built in Denmark in 1972 as MV Jutlandia, and entered commercial service on 1 June 1973. After some time spent in commercial service she was lengthened by Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1984, and later went on to be acquired by the US Navy under a long-term charter. She was converted to a US Navy Vehicle Roll-on/Roll-off Ship at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and on delivery to the Navy was assigned to the Military Sealift Command on 23 August 1996 under the name USNS Gordon,^[2] after Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Gary Gordon. Gordon was one of 28 Strategic Sealift Ships operated by the Military Sealift Command. She was assigned to the MSC Atlantic surge force and was maintained at Canton, Baltimore, Maryland in Reduced Operational Status 4, meaning she can be on her way to pick up cargo within 4 days of notification.

On 26 April 2023, Gordon was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register.^[2] The same day, Gordon was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) Ready Reserve Force (RRF) and renamed Gary I. Gordon also losing the USNS designation.^[3] If activated, Gary I. Gordon will report to the Military Sealift Command and change her prefix designation from MV to USNS. Gary I. Gordon is maintained in a reduced operating status and the crew is provided by commercial companies under contract to MARAD.^[4]

As of March 2024, Gary I. Gordon resided in Baltimore harbor.

References

1. "USNS Gordon (T-AKR-296)". United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
2. "GORDON (AKR 296)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
3. "National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory June 30, 2023" (PDF). U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
4. "Auxiliary Roll-on/Roll-off Ships T-AKR". United States Navy. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.

External links

• MV Gary I. Gordon page of the MARAD vessel history database