The recently released MARAD vessel Banner, T-AK-5008 sits at Esco Marine in the Port of Brownsville on 28th January, 2008 having just arrived this week from the Beaumont National Defense Reserve Fleet. This will probably be my last scrap vessel photo in a while as I am moving to Houston.

Pertinent Data from Navsource

# Breakbulk Cargo Ship: Laid down (date unknown) as SS Export Banner a Maritime Administration type (C3-S-46a) hull under MARAD contract (MA hull 78) at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA.
# Delivered, 16 October 1961, to the Maritime Administration to be operated by American Export Lines
# Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1982, redesignated SS Banner (T-AK-5008)
# Banner could be activated for service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) in 30 days and was operated under contract by Pacific-Gulf Marine, Inc., of Gretna, LA.
# When activated Banner was one of the Military Sealift Commands MSC's twenty-five breakbulk cargo ships
# Banner was withdrawn from MSC's Ready Reserve Force (RRF) and downgraded to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 1 October 2001
# Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 21 December 2007, to ESCO Marine, Brownsville TX., for $532,276

Specifications:
Displacement 10,700 t.(lt) 23,500 t.(fl)
Length 493' 1"
Beam 73' 2"
Draft 30' 6" (max.)
Speed 18.5 kts.
Cargo Capacity 11,000 t. gross, (663,069 cu. ft.) dry cargo, 25,002 cu. ft. refrigerated cargo, 12,000 bbls liquid
Complement Full Operating Status 39
Propulsion 2 steam turbine, twin screws