.JPG "3rd Engineer Kurt Benjamin and 1st Engineer Joseph Stropole")
Third Engineer Kurt Benjamin and First Engineer Joseph Stropole are pictured while activating the SS Regulus. The vessel is one of eight extremely large and fast containerships owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration. The SS Regulus is 948 feet in length, 106 feet in width, with an operating draft of 36 feet. The vessel is a twin screw steamship — one of the fastest in the world — and is powered by steam turbines. Rated at 120,000 horsepower, normal sea speed aboard these vessels is 33.25 knots.
Kurt Benjamin is a St Thomas native and Joseph Stropole lives on St Croix, and both are long- time Merchant Marine engineer officers. Stropole has been a licensed chief engineer for over 20 years.