Evidence
15 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-15).
-
[1]research packet dv-packet.md (2 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: queue-listed "USS SS", AVB-3 → MISMATCH
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-ss-avb3-pkt-dv-packet-md
-
[2]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Wright III (T-AVB-3)', NHHC (Mark L. Evans, 23 Dec 2015; published 11 Jan 2016) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'Wright III (T-AVB-3)' entry, narrative paragraph beginning 'The third Wright (T-AVB-3) was laid down...'; live NHHC URL returned 404 on 2026-09-26 - Wayback capture 2017-06-06 (and identical 2025-12 capture) used
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS entry 'Wright III (T-AVB-3)' (Mark L. Evans, dated 23 Dec 2015, published 11 Jan 2016): third Wright was laid down as breakbulk container ship Mormacsun (MA-224) on 24 June 1968 at Pascagoula, Miss., by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc.; launched 29 July 1969; entered service with Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., 2 February 1970; renamed Young America and delivered to American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines, Inc. (Mediterranean Marine Line, Inc.) 19 October 1970; acquired by American Export Lines, Inc., 31 August 1977; sold to Farrell Lines, Inc., on '38 March 1978' (typographical error - MARAD status card records 3/28/78); acquired by the Maritime Administration 15 December 1981; laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Va.; began conversion at Todd Shipyards-Galveston Division, Texas, 12 June 1984; renamed Wright (T-AVB-3) 14 May 1986; and 'placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) on 7 September 1986.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1968-1986
- Limitations
- DANFS heading prints '1994-' while the narrative dates MSC service to 7 September 1986 - the dated narrative is controlling per batch directive (see correction row ev-02). Entry ends 'Detailed history pending.' Establishes identity/construction/custody dates only; contains no asbestos or materials information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-01
-
[3]DANFS 'Wright III (T-AVB-3)' entry text vs MARAD ShipHistory vessel status cards (YOUNG AMERICA MA-383 reserve-fleet particulars card; WRIGHT T-AVB-3 card) and YOUNG AMERICA milestone table [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS narrative; MARAD status-card images (entered 4-14-82 1410 EST; withdrawn 6-12-84 1205 EDT; renamed U.S.N.S. WRIGHT 5/16/86); YOUNG AMERICA milestone table (Acquisition 4/13/1982)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies resolved or preserved: (a) DANFS heading reads '1994-' but the same entry's narrative dates MSC service to 7 September 1986 - the narrative date is adopted and the heading treated as an editorial error; (b) DANFS prints the Farrell Lines sale date as '38 March 1978', an impossible date - the MARAD reserve-fleet status card records the Farrell Lines transaction 3/28/78, adopted as 28 March 1978; (c) DANFS gives the renaming as 14 May 1986 while a MARAD status card shows 'Renamed U.S.N.S. WRIGHT 5/16/86' - DANFS 14 May 1986 retained as controlling, card date preserved unmerged; (d) DANFS 'acquired by the Maritime Administration 15 December 1981' vs MARAD milestone 'Acquisition 4/13/1982' and status-card fleet entry 4-14-82 - reconciled as title transfer December 1981 with physical James River fleet entry April 1982.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1978-1986
- Limitations
- Reconciles publication-level and primary-card discrepancies; status-card entries are handwritten/stamped government records, partially OCR-aided. Does not change the controlling service timeline. No asbestos content in either source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-02
-
[4]U.S. Maritime Administration, Vessel History Database: MORMACSUN (ShipHistory Detail 9883) and YOUNG AMERICA (ShipHistory Detail 5454) records, incl. vessel name history and milestone tables [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Detail 9883 and Detail 5454 record blocks (characteristics, Vessel Name History, Milestones); companion record Detail 5395 (WRIGHT) rendered a maintenance placeholder only
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD Vessel History Database records for this hull under earlier names - MORMACSUN (Detail 9883) and YOUNG AMERICA (Detail 5454): year built 1970; U.S. Official No. 524416; Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Pascagoula; general type Container, specific type Combination Roll On-Roll Off (ConRo); MARAD type C5-S-78a (on the Mormacsun record); length 601.50 ft; beam 90 ft; gross 11,757 / net 6,850 tons; fate 'Still in Govt. Service.' Vessel Name History: Mormacsun 1970-1970; Young America 1970-1986; Wright 1986-present. Milestone table documents MARAD/MSC operational-control handoffs and movements 1998-2003, including sea trials and Carolina Dragon/Carolina Patriot exercises (1998-2002), Baltimore layberth movements (S. Locust Point, Port Covington, Ruckert Terminal Pier 1, Clinton Street Marine Terminal), repairs at Baltimore Marine Industries June-August 2001, 'OP ENDURING FREEDOM | MSC OPCON 01/17/03,' loading at Morehead City NC 1/18-19/2003, and 'Return from OP IRAQI FREEDOM' 6/12/2003 with Baltimore return/MARAD OPCON 6/13/2003.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1970-2003
- Limitations
- Authoritative for identity, characteristics, custody and movement milestones. The Wright-named detail page (Detail 5395) showed only a maintenance placeholder - hull data carried from the shared earlier-name records of the same official number. Milestone 'Entry 12/13/1946' predates construction and is a data anomaly. No asbestos or materials information in these records.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-03
-
[5]MARAD Vessel History Database, digitized vessel status cards for YOUNG AMERICA and WRIGHT (T-AVB-3) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Status-card image set attached to the YOUNG AMERICA/WRIGHT records (green MA-383 particulars card; blue WRIGHT service card)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD vessel status cards (Form MA-383 'Reserve Fleet - Ship Particulars' and successor cards): YOUNG AMERICA card - ex-name MORMACSUN, type C5-S-78a, builder 'Ingalls SB Corp., Pasc. MS', date built 2-1970, hull no. 1160, draft 34 ft, gross 11,757 / net 6,850 / DW 15,694, LOA 601.48 ft, breadth 90 ft; entered James River fleet 4-14-82 1410 EST under category 'Trade-In & Build'; withdrawn 6-12-84 1205 EDT, reason 'Withdrawn for conversion to TAVB-3.' WRIGHT card records renaming 'U.S.N.S. WRIGHT' 5/16/86 and service note 'Tender MSC DesertStorm - 8/23/90; end DesertStorm - 12/11/91' (activated/tendered to MSC for the Gulf War period 23 August 1990 - 11 December 1991).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1982-1991
- Population
- Marines and civilian mariners embarked for Desert Storm activation
- Limitations
- Handwritten/stamped government custody records, OCR-aided reading; card styling 'U.S.N.S. WRIGHT' coexists with 'SS Wright' usage elsewhere in official records - prefix inconsistency logged, not merged. Card confirms the Desert Storm MSC period independently of DANFS, which is silent on 1990-91. No materials or asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-04
-
[6]U.S. Navy fact file, 'Aviation Logistics Support Ships - T-AVB' (navy.mil / Military Sealift Command Public Affairs) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Fact-file Description/Features/Background sections and General Characteristics table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- U.S. Navy fact file 'Aviation Logistics Support Ships - T-AVB' (MSC Public Affairs): SS Wright and SS Curtiss are U.S. Maritime Administration ships permanently assigned to MSC's Prepositioning Program to enhance Marine Corps aviation maintenance support; normally kept in reduced operating status with a cadre crew aboard; converted by Todd Shipyards of Galveston, Texas in 1986 and 1987 respectively; outfitted with stern ramp and side ports; roll-on/roll-off deck runs the ship's full length; mobile facilities enable aircraft servicing while anchored offshore. General characteristics: Builder Todd Shipyards, Galveston (conversion); two Combustion Engineering boilers, two GE turbines, 30,000 horsepower, one shaft; length 602 ft; beam 90.2 ft; displacement 23,872 tons full load, 11,757 deadweight; speed 19 knots; crew 37 plus one Aircraft Maintenance Detachment totaling 362 men.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- undated fact file; describes post-1986 configuration
- Population
- 37 crew + Aircraft Maintenance Detachment (362 total embarked personnel per fact file)
- Limitations
- Characteristics are class-level for the two-ship Wright class; 'Builder' refers to the conversion yard, not original construction (Ingalls). Complement 37+362 conflicts with DANFS '40 plus carry 325' - figures kept source-separated, not merged. No asbestos or materials information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-05
-
[7]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Wright III (T-AVB-3)', NHHC (Mark L. Evans, 23 Dec 2015) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'Wright III (T-AVB-3)' entry, operations paragraph ('About 330 marines...'); Wayback capture (live page 404)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS operations narrative: about 330 Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and up to 40 civilian contractors sailed aboard Wright when she deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom I, January-July 2003, the Marines providing avionics support; in the month following Hurricane Sandy's 22-31 October 2012 destruction, Wright provided berthing for American Red Cross volunteers, AmeriCorps, FEMA, Montana Conservation Corps, Washington Conservation Corps, and Virginia Military Institute relief workers while anchored near Staten Island, N.Y., in company with training ship Kennedy (T-AK-5059); MARAD maintains Wright in reduced operating status with a 'cadre crew' aboard as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2003; 2012
- Population
- ~330 Marines + up to 40 civilian contractors (OIF-I); disaster-relief workers berthed (Sandy)
- Limitations
- MARAD milestone table logs 'Return from OP IRAQI FREEDOM' 6/12/2003 - DANFS's 'January-July 2003' deployment window is retained with the variance noted. DANFS is silent on the 1990-91 Desert Storm activation documented by the MARAD status card and GulfLink deck logs. No asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-06
-
[8]U.S. Maritime Administration, MARAD history program page 'MARAD Responds to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria' (last updated 2021-10-07) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Page section on Wright activation and St. Thomas mission; maritime.dot.gov blocks automated fetches (Akamai 403) - text verified via Wayback capture 2025-10-01
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD history page 'MARAD Responds to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria' (last updated 7 Oct 2021): FEMA requested MARAD's Aviation Support Logistics Vessel Wright (T-AVB-3) activate 6 September 2017 for Hurricane Irma; FEMA installed an FAA mobile air traffic control center aboard and loaded MREs, bottled water, and tactical/response vehicles; Wright delivered bottled water to San Juan then docked at Crown Bay Pier, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on 24 September; the embarked FAA mobile ATC tower was key to reopening the island's commercial airport; FEMA released Wright 18 October and she departed St. Thomas 21 October 2017; during the mission the ship provided berths for 3,958 responders and 9,923 meals.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2017-09-06 to 2017-10-21
- Population
- 3,958 responders berthed; 9,923 meals served (MARAD figures)
- Limitations
- Official MARAD history-office narrative of the 2017 FEMA response. Crowley's own release adds that the ship was Crowley-managed and that crew received Merchant Marine Medals - operator detail consistent but cited from the operator's press release. No asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-07
-
[9]DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service), Carolina Dragon 25 photo/video captions, VIRINs 250916-M-YV358-1003, 250916-M-OV696-1026, 251008-M-OV696-2010 [other_primary]
- Locator
- DVIDS video 977464 and image set 9324452+ captions (Naval Station Norfolk, 16-17 Sep 2025; off North Carolina 8 Oct 2025)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DoD imagery (DVIDS): U.S. Marines of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing conducted logistics operations aboard the 'Military Sealift Command Wright-class aviation logistics support ship SS Wright (T-AVB-3)' during Exercise Carolina Dragon 25 at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, 16-17 September 2025, and off the North Carolina coast 8 October 2025 - confirming continued active employment of the hull as of October 2025.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2025-09 to 2025-10
- Limitations
- Establishes presence/status at Naval Station Norfolk and underway Sept-Oct 2025 only - not a permanent-homeport statement; layberth could shift again. No asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-08
-
[10]U.S. Maritime Administration, 'National Register Eligibility Assessment - VESSEL: SS Cape Nome' (MARAD Vessel History Database document, dated 2023-04-01) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Assessment sections 'Commercial Shipping Lines' (four-hull enumeration), 'Description/Characteristics of Vessel Type', 'Alterations to the Ship' (Wright T-AVB conversion sentence)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD National Register Eligibility Assessment for sister hull SS Cape Nome (ex-Mormacstar), dated 1 April 2023 (determination: NOT ELIGIBLE): Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Pascagoula built four C5-S-78a ships delivered 1969-70 under MARAD-subsidized contract for Moore-McCormack Lines (the 'Sea-Bridge Class'); the assessment enumerates the four hulls as Curtiss (ex-Mormacsky), Rover (ex-Mormacsea, scrapped 1993), Wright (ex-Mormacsun, ex-Young America - then 'James River Reserve Fleet, Emergency Sealift status'), and Cape Nome (ex-Mormacstar); 'Two of the four C5-S-78a class vessels (Curtiss, Wright) were altered to T-AVB-3 configurations for Aviation Logistics Support, to include a helipad near the bow.' C5-S-78a type characteristics per the assessment: 601.5 ft length, 90-ft beam, 34.08-ft max draft, ~11,670 gross tons, steam propulsion machinery with single propeller (MARAD type-code 'S'), ~824 TEU container capacity across/below decks plus 25,000 sq ft Ro/Ro area, accommodations for 39 crew and 12 passengers.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1969-2023
- Limitations
- Prepared for sister ship Cape Nome's NRHP determination; the Wright material is incidental but explicit and authoritative. Type characteristics describe the unaltered C5-S-78a design - Wright's post-1986 configuration differs (helipad forward, aviation-maintenance facilities). The assessment contains no asbestos or insulation-material statement.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-09
-
[11]GulfLink, Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses / Force Health Protection (fhpr.osd.mil) - Navy units position file derived from deck logs [other_primary]
- Locator
- navylist.htm rows for WRIGHT / T-AVB 3, Al Jubayl position entries Jan 1991
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- GulfLink (DoD Force Health Protection/OSAGWI Gulf War site) deck-log position data for 'T-AVB 3 USNS WRIGHT': the ship held station at 27:08 N / 049:40 E (Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia) on multiple days 15-26 January 1991, sourced in the database to 'DECK LOGS/POSITION DATA' - direct government deck-log evidence of in-theater Desert Shield/Desert Storm service consistent with the MARAD status-card activation window (8/23/90-12/11/91).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1991-01
- Population
- Ship's crew and embarked Marine aviation logistics personnel during Desert Shield/Storm
- Limitations
- Position extract only - deck logs themselves not retrieved; the extract confirms presence at Al Jubayl during the Gulf War but not activities or conditions aboard. No asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-10
-
[12]CourtListener API v4 searches via authenticated helper cl-auth-search.py (opinion search 'T-AVB-3' = 0; 'Mormacsun' = 4 incl. Franzen v. M/V Mormacsun, 918 F.2d 175) [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion-search result sets; Franzen cluster/opinion 551025
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener sweep (authenticated helper, 2026-09-26): opinion search '"T-AVB-3"' returned 0 results. Opinion search 'Mormacsun' returned 4: Franzen v. M/V Mormacsun, 918 F.2d 175 (5th Cir. 1990) is a bare in rem 'AFFIRMED' table disposition naming a motor vessel - non-asbestos on its face and likely a name collision (this hull is steam-powered and had been renamed Young America in 1970); Harry J. Diebold v. Moore McCormack Bulk Transport Lines (2d Cir. 1986), OSG Bulk Ships, Inc. v. United States (D.D.C. 1996), and Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc. v. Commissioner (Tax Ct. 1965) are operator-level or unrelated matters. Classification: no qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull; hits classified other-litigation/name-collision.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Sweep incomplete: 'T-AVB-3' docket search and exact-name searches ('USNS Wright', 'SS Wright', 'Young America', designation variants) were blocked by the fleet-wide hourly CourtListener pacing budget on 2026-09-26 and remain pending - logged in search_ledger. A bare affirmance reveals nothing of subject matter; merchant-era asbestos claims would typically proceed against operators (Moore-McCormack, AEIL/AEL, Farrell) or the government, not the hull name.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-11
-
[13]Batch-3046 search ledger (this record): DANFS (Wayback); MARAD Vessel History Database incl. status cards; navy.mil T-AVB fact file; maritime.dot.gov history page; DVIDS; MARAD NHPA assessment PDF; NVR ship-detail attempt; CourtListener partial sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-ss-avb3-01 through sl-uss-ss-avb3-18
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: the DANFS entry, MARAD ShipHistory records (Mormacsun 9883 / Young America 5454) and status cards, the Navy T-AVB fact file, the MARAD hurricane-response history, DVIDS imagery captions, and the MARAD NHPA eligibility assessment for the C5-S-78a type contain no asbestos, insulation-material, survey, or abatement statement for this hull; no asbestos survey, abatement contract, product identification, environmental record, or docketed asbestos case naming Wright / T-AVB-3 / Mormacsun / Young America was found in the public sources searched.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1970-built steam plant and a 1984-86 conversion are era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and neither construction specifications nor conversion/repair work packages were surveyed. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-12
-
[14]U.S. Government Accountability Office, HRD-80-2, 'Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure' (Oct 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page (title/date/agency metadata); full-text fetch returned HTTP 403 - product-page description level only
- Finding type
- regulatory
- Finding
- GAO report HRD-80-2, 'Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure' (published 18 October 1979): program-level GAO review documenting that asbestos exposure remained an active hazard-control problem in Navy shipbuilding/repair work - fieldwork at the Long Beach and Norfolk naval shipyards - contemporaneous with this hull's era (built 1968-70; converted 1984-86; steam propulsion).
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1979 (review period ~1970s)
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers (program-level)
- Limitations
- Names no vessel; fieldwork covered Long Beach and Norfolk naval shipyards, not Ingalls Pascagoula or Todd Galveston. Establishes program-era context only - that Navy was actively managing asbestos exposure in shipyards circa 1979 - and nothing about materials aboard or removed from this hull. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetches).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-13
-
[15]NARA Guide to Federal Records, RG 357 (Maritime Administration); MARAD NHPA assessment source list ('MARAD 05.05 NDRF Ship Files, HQ office'); NARA catalog NAID 6449210 [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov RG 357 guide; Cape Nome NHPA assessment 'Sources' section; catalog.archives.gov/id/6449210
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (unretrieved - no spend authorized): (a) NARA RG 357, Records of the Maritime Administration (College Park) - shipbuilding-contract and ship files covering MARAD contract MA-224 and C5-S-78a design/construction documentation; (b) MARAD HQ '05.05 NDRF Ship Files' - the series cited as 'Cape Nome Ship File' in the sister-ship NHPA assessment implies a corresponding Wright ship file including conversion custody records; (c) MSC-era deck logs for T-AVB-3 (1986-present, including the 1990-91 Gulf deployment sampled by GulfLink) are held through NHHC/NARA deck-log transfers; (d) NARA catalog record NAID 6449210 (DoD photo DM-ST-90-10198) reportedly depicts Wright arriving Bethlehem Steel/Fore River Shipyard, Quincy MA for repair on 12 August 1991 - caption per NavSource; catalog record exists (HTTP 200) but descriptive content unverified this pass; (e) Todd Shipyards Galveston conversion work packages (1984-86 material/removal records) would document asbestos handling during conversion but are private/defunct-yard records with no located public repository.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1968-present records
- Limitations
- Record-group/series mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-ss-avb3-14