MV Blue Marlin carrying USS Cole

The US Navy hired the Blue Marlin from Offshore Heavy Transport to move the destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) back to the United States after it was crippled in Aden, Yemen in the USS Cole bombing.

During the latter part of 2003, the Blue Marlin underwent a major conversion, increasing its capacity well beyond the original specifications. The upgrade also included the addition of two retractable propulsors to improve the vessel's maneuverability. Blue Marlin reentered service in January 2004

Original specifications

• Length Overall: 217.00 m (712.0 ft)
• Length PP: 206.50 m (677.5 ft)
• Breadth Moulded: 42.00 m (137.8 ft)
• Depth Moulded: 13.30 m (43.6 ft)
• Summer Draft: 10.10 m (33.1 ft)
• Deadweight: 56,000 mt (Cole weighed much less than 8,000 mt.)
• Submerged Depth above Deck: 10.0 m (32.8 ft)
• Free Deck Length: 178.20 m or 157.20 m (584.6 ft or 515.7 ft)
• Free Deck Area: More than 7215 m² (77,672 ft²)
• Main Engine Output: 12,640 kW (17,160 BHP)
• Bow Thruster: 2,000 kW (2,712 BHP)
• Cruise Speed: 14.5 knots
• Cruise Range: 25,000 nm
• Accommodation: 55 people
• Building Yard: CSBC, Kaohsiung

Post-2004 specifications

• Length Overall: 224.50 m (736.5 ft)
• Breadth: 63.00 m (206.7 ft)
• Depth: 13.30 m (43.6 ft)
• Max sailing draft: 10.08 m (33.1 ft)
• Max draft submerged: 29.30 m (96.1 ft)
• Water above deck submerged
  • aft 16.00 m (52.5 ft)
  • forward 12.00 m (39.4 ft)
• Deadweight: 76,061 mt
• Deck space: 63 x 178.2 m (206.7 x 584.6 ft)
• Deck area: 11,227 m² (120,850 ft²)
• Propulsor output: 4500 kW (6,035 hp) (each
• Conversion yard: Hyundai Mipo Dockyard , Ulsan, South Korea

Some post-conversion specifications are unknown.