US research vessel sold to fishing company
The 'Cape Flattery' has now been renamed by its new owner US Seafoods
Tanadgusix Corporation’s (TDX) flag research vessel, ‘Cape Flattery’ has been sold by broker Marcon International Inc, to Seattle based fishing company, US Seafoods.
The 186ft vessel was built in 1990 for the US Navy as a torpedo trials vessel (YYT-9) by McDermott Shipyards which reportedly costs US$38m. Its original hull design was based on an oil supply vessel and so heavily built with 1.5 inch hull plate below the main deck. The first of four sister vessels, the YTT-9 was struck from the Naval Register in 1999 and sold to TDX who used it for diving and ROV operations, surveys, oil spill response and salvage.
The Cape Flattery was used by TDX as a research vessel, capable of operating for 42 days at sea with a range of around 4,000 nautical miles and an average operating speed of 9 to 11 knots.
US Seafoods has already renamed the vessel Seafreeze America ready for its new role as a catcher/processor. The vessel will join the company’s fleet of four catcher-processors and two catcher vessels currently working in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska.
A 60ft mid-body section will be added to the vessel to increase its overall length to approximately 246ft.
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