Thanks Deck Ape, for your clear explanation,
Rgds. Cees

Cees, my tag nmu deck ape is homage my membership in the late/great National Maritime Union which represented the unlicensed seamen aboard Lykes lines and
other US flag shipping companies, as well as the Panama Canal workers during many of the years the canal was under American control. I sailed mostly as Able Seaman and our officers would sometimes mockingly refer to the deck gang as deck apes.

Hi Cees, did you get close to her as she seems in very good condition for a 47 year old lady!

Thanks Kyle, for your comment and additional info.
Rgds. Cees

As a Maritime Administration type C4-S-66a, she's actually not the last of her kind. Her sisters DOLLY TRUMAN, FREDERICK LYKES, HOWELL LYKES and MASON LYKES actually live on for the time being in the National Defense Reserve Fleet as CAPE BRETON, CAPE BOVER, CAPE BORDA, and CAPE BLANCO, respectively. Though, given recent removals from the reserve fleet, I would guess they could be soon on the chopping block.

Thanks Marc, for your comment.

Most certainly one of the last US-flag steamers still in service today.
Definitely the last one from the Lykes fleet from the 1960s. Ex-VELMA LYKES.
Great shot of her with the cadets manning the rails.

Marc

Thanks, omniron / Paul and Ron for your comments.
Rgds. Cees

Great picture

Speechless...
Amazing shot !!
Well done Cees !
Best regards,
Paul

What a spectacular shot of an unusual vessel, very nice

Thanks (nmu deck ape ??) for the additional info.

Thanks Chris, for your comment.
Rgds. Cees

Built by Lykes Brothers as the Vemla Lykes as one of their Gulf Clipper class for the Gulf of Mexico to Far East service A pix of her sister ship Galveston Bay EX Mallory Lykes was posted recently and shows what she looked like before being converted to school ship

Excellent set again, twice in four years, what luck !

Thanks Shaun, for your comment. Cees
Have a nice weekend !!!

Thanks Gianpaolo, for your nice comment.

Superb shot
GP

Thanks Shaun, for your comment.