Algol-class vehicle cargo ship

The Algol class is a group of eight fast sealift ships that began life in 1972 and 1973 as the SL-7 high-speed container ships of Sea-Land Service. Their running costs were high, and the United States Navy acquired all eight in 1981 and 1982 and rebuilt them for the Military Sealift Command. The conversion added roll-on/roll-off capability, four cranes and a redesigned cargo hold for carrying vehicles. Avondale Shipyards converted three of the eight at its yard near New Orleans, the Antares, the Altair and the Pollux; the others were done at other yards. The steam-powered ships can exceed 33 knots, which made them the fastest conventional cargo ships in the world. All eight are named for bright stars, and in 2008 they passed to the Ready Reserve Fleet of the Maritime Administration.