TS General Rudder
TS General Rudder on approach to Texas A&M Maritime Academy, 2019 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | USNS Contender (T-AGOS-2) |
| Operator | USNS |
| Ordered | September 26, 1980 |
| Builder | Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington |
| Laid down | January 10, 1983 |
| Launched | December 20, 1983 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Sarah Sumner Rowden |
| Acquired | June 9, 1984 |
| Stricken | December 11, 1992 |
| Fate | Disposed of by title transfer to MARAD on October 1, 1992 |
| Status | Converted into training vessel TV Kings Pointer for the US Merchant Marine Academy and later renamed/refitted as TS General Rudder |
| United States | |
| Name | T/V Kings Pointer |
| Owner | United States Maritime Administration |
| Operator | United States Merchant Marine Academy |
| Acquired | 1992 |
| In service | 1992-2012 |
| Homeport | Kings Point, New York |
| Fate | Transferred to Texas A&M Maritime Academy |
| United States | |
| Name | T/V General Rudder |
| Owner | United States Maritime Administration |
| Operator | Texas A&M University at Galveston |
| Acquired | 2012 |
| In service | 2012-2019 |
| Homeport | Galveston, Texas |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Laid up |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Training Vessel |
| Tonnage | 1,914 GT;574 NT |
| Displacement | 2,285 tons (at design draft) |
| Length | 224 ft (68 m) |
| Beam | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Height | 71 ft (22 m) |
| Draft | 16.0 ft (4.9 m) |
| Ice class | ABS Class C0 |
| Installed power | 4x Caterpillar D398TA Generators; 2x General Electric Motors; 1600 hp |
| Speed | 12 knots |
| Capacity | 228,615 gallons diesel (98% capacity) |
| Crew | 64 |
TS General Rudder was the primary training vessel of Texas A&M Maritime Academy. In operation with Texas A&M from 2012 to 2023, it originated as the USNS Contender (T-AGOS-2), a Stalwart-class Modified Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship of the United States Navy. It also served as the flagship of the United States Merchant Marine Academy training fleet from 1992 to 2012. As of December 2024, the ship was berthed at the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Beaumont, Texas.