Would the world’s first purpose-built oceangoing roll-on/roll-off ship make a good museum? The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is offering the USNS Comet to a qualified public and non-profit organization for use as a memorial, a museum and/or in “other non-commercial enterprises.”
Built at Sun Shipyard, she was delivered in January 1958. The ship has a single stern ramp, which allows wheeled vehicles to drive aboard the ship. Once aboard, internal ramps and watertight doors allowed the vehicles to be stowed in the ship’s holds and tween decks. The ship could also be loaded by conventional cargo gear through deck hatches. The Comet is the lone ship of her class. As the first deep sea ro-ro, she is indeed the “Mother of all Ro-Ros.”
The USNS Comet is now in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, California. Any organizations interested in the ship have until July 7, 2014 to submit donation applications to MARAD. For more information, click here.
The Navy or whatever entity is responsible for the Comet probably won’t let her go unless the interested group can show substantial funds for the towing costs and refurbishment. My guess is she needs at least several million in repairs which probably include drydocking. If no group can come up with the funding she’ll probably be sold for scrap as it is expensive to maintain her in reserve.
Bob Stockton, CPO USN (ret.)
navypublishing.com
http://adamsclassmuseum.org/
Unfortunately, even a “free” ship is terribly expensive. I would not be surprised to see her scrapped. Comet is unique and historic but doesn’t strike me as a natural addition to a maritime museum.
My Uncle sailed on her for 10 years. I know he has a large picture of her at sea and I also think he has some 8mm film of her in a strom. He said that ship would really roll and especially in the North Atlantic in the winter. In the 1970s they were loading servicemen’s cars and vehicles in the states and taking them to military bases in Europe like Rota, Spain, Bremerhaven, Naples, etc. And I think they took cargo to Viet Nam also. My Uncle would stay on her 18 months at a time, and then just 6 weeks or so of vacation.