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USNS Paul Buck

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Paul Buck anchoring off Antarctica
History
United States
NameUSNS Paul Buck
BuilderAmerican Ship Building Company, Tampa, Florida
Laid down1985
Launched7 July 1985
Completedas Ocean Champion
Acquiredby US Navy 11 September 1985
In service11 September 1985
Out of service30 June 2010
Stricken30 June 2010
Identification
FateRetained in Beaumont Reserve Fleet[1]
StatusInterim hold[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeOil Products Tanker Champion Class T-5 Tanker
Displacement21,470 tons full 39624 tons
Length615
Beam90 ft (27 m)
Draft24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)
Installed powerSulzer 5RTA76 diesel (18,400 hp sustained)
PropulsionSingle shaft
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Capacity237,766 bbls
Complement24 Civilians
Armamentunarmed
Aircraft carriednone

USNS Paul Buck (T-AOT-1122), a transport oiler ship, 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. On the morning of February 2, 2024 it was observed being towed through the Brazos Santiago Pass at South Padre Island, presumably for recycling at the Brownsville shipyards.

Antarctic missions

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The Paul Buck harbored next to an Ice breaker in Winter Quarters 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, always escorted by an ice breaker.

In 2010 the vessel was replaced by Empire State[2] and Paul Buck was taken out of service and transferred to the Maritime Commission's National Defense Reserve Fleet. The vessel was laid up in "Interim Hold" as of April 2020.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory (April 2020)" (PDF). US Maritime Administration. US Department of Transportation. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Military Sealift Command upgrades tanker fleet". American Shipper. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
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