Built as the standard C1-M-AV1 cargo ship Alexander R Nininger at Duluth in 1945, the survey ship USNS Sgt George D Keathly at Wallsend on 25 September 1971.

Did they have a run of US Navy ships around then, I have a sighting of survey ship BOWDITCH 26/12/1969 and the icebreaker NORTHWIND maybe a bit earlier, undated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Sgt._ ... (T-APC-117)

Looks like she was on her way back to the States to decommission.....