The MV Cape Orlando was laid down on February 20, 1980 under the name MV Finneagle at Kockums Varv Shipyards under contract with Finnlines. It was completed and delivered a year later on February 18, 1981. The ship was then sold to Zenit Dry Good Corp. and renamed the MV Zenit Eagle on June 28, 1983, and then resold again to AutoMar II Corp, 1983 and renamed once more to American Eagle. From there it was chartered under long-term contract to US department of Transportation and then brought over to the Ready Reserve Fleet on September 14, 1994. Since then it has played roles in transportation details in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.