Specifications of MV Cape Hudson, US Military Ship Docked in Banyuwangi

JAKARTA – A number of US combat vehicles were brought to Indonesia to take part in the 2024 Multi-National Super Garuda Shield joint exercise (Latgabma) in English East Java.

These combat vehicles were transported using the MV Cape Hudson, a Cape H Class Roll-on/Roll-off Ship. The ship was seen carrying a number of combat vehicles such as helicopters and began the process of unloading at Tanjung Wangi port from Monday to Wednesday afternoon.

The combat vehicles and weapons are scheduled to be used in international training from August 26 to September 6 in Situbondo and Banyuwangi. The 2024 Super Garuda Shield Joint Training will be attended by 19 countries, including Indonesia, the US, Australia, Japan, Singapore, England, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, the Philippines, South Korea, Papua, New Guinea, and Timor Leste.

The MV Cape Hudson itself was developed in 1978-79 as the MV Barber Taif, a G2-Dsl type RO-RO vessel at Tangen Verft, Norway, for Wilhelmsen Line and was handed over for commercial service on 30 May 1979 to the Barber Steamship Co.

The ship was then sold to the US Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, in December 1986 and renamed MV Cape Hudson. The ship has dimensions of 749 meters long, 106 meters wide, with a Cargo capacity of 180,000 sq. ft. or 6,766 ISO containers, a vehicle ramp capacity of 63.9 t, and is capable of 18.5 knots. MV Cape Hudson is not equipped with any weapons.

When activated, MV Cape Hudson (AKR-5066) was one of 31 Maritime Administration Roll-on/Roll-off Reserve Ships assigned to MSC. It was deployed to Operation Desert Storm from August 15, 1990 to May 20, 1992.

The Vessel Finder page notes that the MV Cape Hudson has been in Indonesian waters since August 12, 2024 and is sailing under the Alaskan state flag.

(msf)