Fire causes $750,000 worth of damage on USNS SISLER
Military Sealift RO-RO suffers fire at Boston


One of the USA's large RO-RO vessels used to support operations by US Forces has suffered a fire whilst undergoing maintenance in a South Boston dock, US press are reporting..

The 950 feet long USNS SISLER (T-AKR 311) was in drydock when the blaze broke out in the early hours of Friday morning.

Firefighters had a battle to reach the blaze as they negotiated the insides of the massive vessel. The fire was put out with an hour, although half that time was spent simply trying to reach the blaze, says the Boston Globe

Ironically the work on the vessel, carried out by Boston Ship Repair Inc, was nearing completion.

Estimation of the damage to the ship has been put at around three quarters of a million dollars said the Globe.

Particulars:

• Length: 950 feet
• Beam: 106 feet
• Draft: 34 feet
• Displacement: 62,644 long tons
• Speed: 24.0 knots

Crew
• Civilian: 30
• Military: 5

She was delivered to the US Navy six months ahead of schedule by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in October 1998