Description
The Fast Sealift Ships are the fastest cargo ships in the world. The ships can travel at speed of up to 33 knots and are capable of sailing from the U.S. East Coast to Europe in just six days, and to the Persian Gulf via the Suez Canal in 18 days, thus ensuring rapid delivery of military equipment in a crisis. Combined, all eight Fast Sealift Ships can carry nearly all the equipment needed to outfit a full Army mechanized division.

Features
Fast Sealift Ships are roll-on/roll-off and lift-on/lift-off ships equipped with on-board cranes and self-contained ramps which enable the ships to off-load onto lighterage which anchored at sea or in ports where shore facilities for unloading equipment are unavailable. The vessels are specially suited to transport heavy or bulky unit equipment such as tanks, large wheeled vehicles and helicopters.

Background
All were originally built as container ships for Sea-Land Services, Inc., Port Elizabeth, N.J., but because of high fuel consuption were not cost-effective as merchant ships. Six ships of this class were approved for acquisition in FY81 and the remaining two in FY82. The purchase price included 4,000 containers and 800 container chassis for use in container ship configuration. All eight were converted to Fast Sealift Ships, which are vehicle cargo ships. With speeds up to 33 knots, they are the fastest cargo ships ever built. Conversion included the addition of roll-on/roll-off features. The area between the forward and after superstructures allows for emergency high hover helicopter lifts. Ninety-three percent of a U.S. Army mechanized division can be lifted using all eight ships. Seven of the class moved thirteen percent of all the cargo transported between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia during and after the Persian Gulf War. Six were activated for the Somalian operation in December 1992 and all have been used in various operations and exercises since then. The FSS are all based in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ports.

General Characteristics, Algol Class

Builder: T-AKR 287, 289, 293; Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V., Rotterdam, the Netherlands
T-AKR 288, 291; Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany
T-AKR 290, 292; A.G. Weser, Bremen, West Germany.
Propulsion: 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 875 psi (61.6kg/cm2); 9500F (5100C); 2 GE MST-19 steam turbines; 120,000 hp (89.5 MW); 2 shafts(60,000/shaft).
Length: 946.2 feet (288.59 meters).
Beam: 106 feet (32.33 meters).
Displacement: 55,350 tons (56,235.6 metric tons) full load.
Speed: 33 knots (37 mph).
Crew: 43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational); 18 civilians (reduced operating status).
Homeport: No homeport assigned.
Ships:
USNS Algol (T-AKR 287) - formerly the MV Sea-Land Exchange (AK 287)
USNS Bellatrix (T-AKR 288) - formerly the MV Sea-Land Trade (AK 288)
USNS Denebola (T-AKR 289) - formerly the MV Sea-Land Resource (AK 289)
USNS Pollux (T-AKR 290) - formerly the MV Sea-Land Market (AK 290)
USNS Altair (T-AKR 291) - formerly the MV Sea-Land Finance (AK 291)
USNS Regulus (T-AKR 292) - formerly the MV Sea-Land Commerce (AK 292)
USNS Capella (T-AKR 293) - formerly the MV Sea-Land McLean (AK 293)
USNS Antares (T-AKR 294) - formerly the MV Sea-Land Galloway (AK 294)