Beaumont Reserve Fleet

The Beaumont Reserve Fleet, was established by act of Congress in 1946, as a component of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF). The fleet is located in Beaumont, Texas.[1]

Beaumont Reserve Fleet in 1947

History edit

In 1946, the US Government excavated 24 million cubic yards of soil from the Neches River, southeast of Beaumont, to create the McFadden Bend Cutoff. This is the location of the fleet. The Neches River connects to Sabine Lake and then the Gulf of Mexico.[2]

The Beaumont Reserve Fleet is one of only three remaining National Defense Reserve Fleets, of the original eight NDRFs, and the only anchorage on the Gulf Coast. The fleet is maintained by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), an agency of the Department of Transportation (DOT).[3][4]

As of December 2022, there were 22 ships in the Beaumont Reserve Fleet.[5] The other Reserve Fleets are the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet inland from San Francisco Bay and the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia.

Inventory edit

As of 31 January 2024:[1]

Name Division Hull No. Year Built Design Home Port Status
RRF - Roll-On/Roll-Off
Cape Taylor Gulf AKR 113 1977 Dsl/Japan Port of Beaumont, TX RRF
Cape Texas Gulf AKR 112 1977 Dsl/Germany Port of Beaumont, TX RRF
Cape Trinity Gulf AKR 9711 1977 Dsl/Germany Port of Beaumont, TX RRF
Cape Victory Gulf AKR 9701 1984 Dsl/Italy BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TX RRF
Cape Vincent Gulf AKR 9666 1984 Dsl/Italy BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TX RRF
Pollux Gulf T-AKR 290 1973 Navy Cargo BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TX RRF
Regulus Gulf T-AKR 292 1972 Navy Cargo BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TX RRF
Cape May Gulf AKR 5063 1973 C8-S-82a BRF, Beaumont, TX Militarily Useful
Cape Mohican Gulf AKR 5065 1973 C8-S-82a BRF, Beaumont, TX Militarily Useful
Retention - Passenger Ship
General Rudder Atlantic T-AGOS 2 1984 AGOS-1 BRF, Beaumont, TX School Ship
Non-retention - Tanker
Lawrence H. Gianella Gulf T-AOT 1125 1985 Champion BRF, Beaumont, TX Disposal
Paul Buck Gulf T-AOT 1122 1985 Champion BRF, Beaumont, TX Disposal
Richard G. Matthiesen Gulf T-AOT 1124 1985 Champion BRF, Beaumont, TX Disposal
Samuel L. Cobb Gulf T-AOT 1123 1985 Champion BRF, Beaumont, TX Disposal
Non-retention - Crane Ship
Diamond State Gulf T-ACS 7 1960 C6-S-MA1xb BRF, Beaumont, TX Disposal
Non-retention - Roll-On/Roll-Off
Shughart Gulf T-AKR 295 1996 LMSR BRF, Beaumont, TX Disposal
Yano Gulf T-AKR 297 1996 LMSR BRF, Beaumont, TX Disposal
Custody - Military
Benjamin B. Dailey Gulf WPC 1123 2017 Fast Response Cutter BRF, Beaumont, TX USCG

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ maritime.dot.gov, NDRF Fleet and Services
  2. ^ maritime.dot.gov Beaumont Reserve Fleet
  3. ^ maritime.dot.gov Beaumont Reserve Fleet photos
  4. ^ maritime.dot.gov History of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF)
  5. ^ "National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory" (PDF). U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. January 1, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.


30°1′30″N 94°0′39″W / 30.02500°N 94.01083°W / 30.02500; -94.01083