SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: SS Cape Island

Thanks for sending the photo! A reader noticed the SS Cape Island passing West Seattle, northbound, this afternoon. We’ve shown it two previous times in the past 12 years; it’s a Tacoma-based Ready Reserve Force ship, 45 years old, 685 feet long, steam-powered. It’s still headed north in Puget Sound right now, passing Whidbey Island per MarineTraffic.com, destination not listed.

4 Replies to "SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: SS Cape Island"

  • Eric1 August 28, 2021 (4:14 pm)

    You make it seem like the ship is an old relic:  Reserve force, steam power,  45 years old.  So old it apparently can only go to sea once every 4 years.  I guess it isn’t sail/oar powered so luckily it doesn’t qualify as ancient…  But that ship is still younger than me… LOL

    • WSB August 28, 2021 (4:33 pm)

      While looking around for current information, I did find a story from a few years ago about how the Ready Reserve Force fleet is aging and difficult to crew because finding people certified in steam-powered ship operation is ever-tougher … TR

  • CRUSHER August 28, 2021 (8:53 pm)

    This is a turbo activation and is done to test readiness of the vessel in time of need or emergency.

  • 22blades August 28, 2021 (11:36 pm)

    Steam is still the basis of propulsion in nuclear “powered” vessels.It all winds up in a steam turbine to a reduction gear to turn a propeller shaft.The National Defense Reserve Fleet is similar to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet that my company & fleet is being deployed on short notice to transport refugees from Afghanistan to various places around the world.

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