SS Cape Florida (AK-5071) was laid down 29 December 1969, as SS LASH Turkiye, a United States Maritime Administration type (C8-S-81b) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 229) at Avondale Industries Corp., New Orleans. She was launched, 10 October 1970 and delivered to the Maritime Administration, 12 September 1973, for operation by Prudential Grace Line. She was acquired by Delta Line and initially renamed SS Delta Caribe and subsequently SS American Caribe. She was reacquired by the Maritime Administration for assignment to the Ready Reserve Fleet (RRF) on 17 February 1987 where she was berthed at Beaumont, Texas. When activated Cape Florida was assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as one of the Military Sealift Command's four LASH Ready Reserve Force Ships and could be activated in 10 days. She was removed from MSC control, withdrawn from the RRF by reassignment to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 28 July 2006. On 6 July 2020 the contract for dismantling Cape Florida was awarded to International Shipbreaking Ltd. She arrived at Brownsville, Texas on 13 August of the same year to begin scrapping, with the process expected to be completed by early 2021.^[1]

LASH Turkiye seen in 1971
History
United States
Name	SS Cape Florida (AK-5071)
Builder	Avondale Industries Corp., New Orleans, LA
Laid down	29 December 1969
Launched	10 October 1970
Acquired	17 February 1987
Out of service	28 July 2006
Identification	IMO number: 7034335 MMSI number: 366057000 Callsign: WMIG
Fate	Scrapped at Brownsville, TX beginning 13 August 2020
Notes	Launched as SS LASH Turkiye
General characteristics
Class and type	Lighter Aboard Ship (LASH) Barge Carrier - C8-S-81b
Displacement	44,610 tons
Length	893 ft 0 in (272.19 m)
Beam	100 ft 0 in (30.48 m)
Draft	38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
Propulsion	Steam turbine, single propeller
Speed	18.7 kn (21.5 mph; 34.6 km/h)
Capacity	77 barges
Complement	Full Operational Status: 31 civilian mariners
Armament	None
Aviation facilities	None