Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Facility, Searsport, ca. 1990

Contributed by Oakfield Historical Society

Description

Bangor and Aroostook Railroad facility in Searsport. At the pier is the Sealift/China Sea (AOT-170).

In 1975 the U.S. Navy contracted to charter a fleet of nine Sealift class tankers (including Sealift/China Sea) which were built for the Military Sealift Command (MSC). The ships were leased because Congress would not appropriate the purchase price. The 20 year contract ended up costing more than twice what the original purchase price would have been.

The Sealift/China Sea was commissioned in 1975. It had an overall length of 587 feet, beam of 84 feet with accommodations for 13 officers and a crew of 23. It carried 200,000 barrels of jet fuel, diesel, and unleaded gasoline.

In 1994 the GAO reported to Congress that: "The Navy depends upon a privately run sealift tanker fleet to transport jet fuel and other petroleum products to ports worldwide. A GAO review found understaffed and unqualified crews--some with felony records; deteriorating vessels plagued by everything from massive oil leaks to inoperable life boats; and poor oversight by the Military Sealift Command." (08/31/94, GAO/OSI-94-27).

The Sealift/China Sea was decommissioned in 1995 and sold to an unidentified foreign country.

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About This Item

  • Title: Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Facility, Searsport, ca. 1990
  • Creator: Daniel Lee
  • Creation Date: circa 1990
  • Subject Date: circa 1990
  • Location: Searsport, Waldo County, ME
  • Media: Photographic print
  • Dimensions: 9 cm x 12 cm
  • Object Type: Image

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For more information about this item, contact:

Oakfield Historical Society
PO Box 176, Oakfield, ME 04763
(207) 267-1294
Website

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