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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

Ready Reserve Ships Leave Region

The Cape Lambert is left without its twin.
The Cape Lambert is left without its twin.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/whqr/local-whqr-520669.mp3

Wilmington, NC – The U.S. Maritime Administration retired the two ships. The Cape Lobos left the region Friday. The Cape Lambert will follow in early August.

The ships are part of the government's Ready Reserve fleet. They're known as roll-on, roll-off' vessels: ramps in the stern allow them to load and unload vehicles. But the ships can't handle the latest generation of tanks. Instead of upgrading, they're going into retirement in Beaufort, Texas. The ships may still be called up for emergencies.

The Cape Ls, as they're nicknamed, have been moored on Eagles Island for the past 15 years. They were last used in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.