Shipbuilding History

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Sun Shipbuilding

Chester PA

Most recent update: March 28, 2014.

Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company (Sun Ship) was developed by Sun Oil in 1916 as a tanker builder and was in continuous operation throughout the lean inter-war years. At the beginning of the WWII emergency, its 8 ways were increased to 20 with $28mm from MARCOM, and later to 28, making it the single largest shipyard in the country. At its peak it employed more than 40,000 people, organized in four adjacent yards. The most northerly of the four, known as the #4 Yard, was manned almost exclusively by African-American workers. After the war, the South Yard and the #4 Yard were sold for industrial development and Sun continued as a merchant shipbuilder in the Central and North Yards. It was sold to Pennsylvania Shipbuilding (Penn Ship) in 1982, but closed in 1989. The North Yard is now Penn Terminals, a very successful independent cargo terminal: this was the first U.S. port facility to employ Boilermaker labor, a move that was so successful that Local 802later also works Horizon Terminals, in Philly. The Central Yard site has been sold or leased for multiple uses: the south end is now part of neighboring Kimberly-Clark (formerly Scott Paper), the parking lot to the east of Morton Avenue is now a state penitentiary and the big floating dry-dock is now in Galveston; the remainder of the Central Yard is now Harrah's Chester Casino & Racetrack. See the shipyard from the air on Google here

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O/N hull # Name Customer Type GT LDT Price
($m)		 Contract
Award		 Keel
Laid		 Launched Delivered Days on
Ways		 Days in
Water		 Notes
593 268798 Western Sun Sun Oil Co. tanker 18,800 30,000 16 Oct 1954 16 Dec 1954 61 later Mobile Bay 1988, scrapped 1990
594 270025 Eastern Sun Sun Oil Co. tanker 18,800 30,000 26 May 1955 29 Jul 1955 64 later Cove Mariner 1982, scrapped 1984
595 267144 Eclipse Socony Vacuum Oil Co. tanker 16,200 25,000 23 Dec 1953 12 Mar 1954 79 later Cove Spirit 1978, scrapped 1984
596 Liberia Olympic Sun South Atlantic Marine S.A. tanker 18,800 30,000 8 Apr 1954 22 Jan 1955 289 scrapped
597 268196 Atlantic Communicator Southern Chartering Co. tanker 18,800 30,000 24 May 1954 12 Aug 1954 80 later Cove Communicator 1976, scrapped 1983
598 AO-149 38 Maumee U.S. Maritime Admin. fleet oiler T5-S-12a 15,600 25,000 8 Mar 1955 16 Feb 1956 17 Dec 1956 345 305 650 scrapped 2006
599 AO-150 39 Potomac U.S. Maritime Admin. fleet oiler T5-S-12a 15,600 25,000 9 Jun 1955 8 Oct 1956 30 Jan 1957 487 114 601 sold as Shenandoah 1965, Potomac 1976, in NDRF
600 AO-151 40 Shoshone U.S. Maritime Admin. fleet oiler T5-S-12a 15,600 25,000 15 Aug 1955 17 Jan 1957 15 Apr 1957 521 88 609 in NDRF
601 AKR-7 42 Comet U.S. Maritime Admin. Ro-Ro C3-ST-14a 10,111 13,800 15 May 1956 31 Jul 1957 24 Jan 1958 442 177 619 in RRF as T-AKR 7
604 276911 Atlantic Enterprise Phila. Northern SS Co. tanker 18,800 30,000 26 Mar 1958 11 Jul 1958 107 later Arco Enterprise 1976, Oasis Hawaii 1980, Dina 1981, Pomerol 1985, scrapped 1994
605 277623 Atlantic Endeavor Phila. Northern SS Co. tanker 18,800 30,000 17 Jul 1958 20 Oct 1958 95 later Syosset 1985, Syosse 1993, scrapped 1995
610 280202 Pennsylvania Sun Sun Oil Co. tanker 26,100 50,850 19 Oct 1959 16 Dec 1959 58 scrapped 1986
611 283897 Texas Sun Sun Oil Co. tanker 26,100 50,850 24 Aug 1960 13 Dec 1960 111 scrapped 1995
615 278471 Mobil Aero Socony Mobil Oil Co. tanker 18,800 30,000 30 Dec 1958 31 Mar 1959 91 scrapped 1985
616 279064 Mobil Oil Socony Mobil Oil Co. tanker 18,800 30,000 9 Apr 1959 29 Jun 1959 81 scrapped 1984
617 282295 67 Mormacpride Moore-McCormack Lines Breakbulk freighter (C3) 9,300 12,700 10.1 1 Feb 1960 6 Jul 1960 156 later Pride 1978, scrapped 2008
618 283541 68 Mormacbay Moore-McCormack Lines Breakbulk freighter (C3) 9,300 12,700 10.1 12 May 1960 14 Oct 1960 155 later Bay 1977, in NDRF
619 284802 75 Mormaclake Moore-McCormack Lines Breakbulk freighter (C3) 9,300 12,700 10.1 5 Jan 1961 11 Apr 1961 96 later Lake 1977, in NDRF
620 285890 76 Mormacscan Moore-McCormack Lines Breakbulk freighter (C3) 9,300 12,700 10.1 21 Mar 1961 30 Jun 1961 101 later Scan 1977, scrapped 2008
621 286749 77 Mormaccove Moore-McCormack Lines Breakbulk freighter (C3) 9,300 12,700 10.1 29 Jun 1961 29 Sep 1961 92 later Cove 1977, Northern Lights 1980
622 287900 98 Mormactrade Moore-McCormack Lines Breakbulk freighter (C3) 9,300 12,700 10.1 15 Feb 1960 23 Jan 1962 12 Apr 1962 708 79 787 later Trade 1977, Southern Cross 1980, scrapped 2008
623 289947 124 Export Courier American Export Lines Breakbulk C3-S-46b 11,000 12,700 8.7 5 Jul 1961 5 Apr 1962 11 Dec 1962 274 250 524 later Courier 1981, scrapped 2008
624 291731 125 Export Commerce American Export Lines Breakbulk C3-S-46b 11,000 12,700 8.7 4 Oct 1961 19 Jul 1962 14 Jun 1963 288 330 618 later Commerce 1984, scrapped 2000
625 292227 126 Export Challenger American Export Lines Breakbulk C3-S-46b 11,000 12,700 8.7 16 Apr 1962 13 Dec 1962 26 Jul 1963 241 225 466 later Courage 1987, scrapped 2001
626 292669 127 Export Champion American Export Lines Breakbulk C3-S-46b 11,000 12,700 8.7 1 Aug 1962 28 Mar 1963 20 Sep 1963 239 176 415 later Champion 1987, scrapped 1998
627 293299 Atlantic Heritage Central Trading Co. tanker 26,100 50,850 5 Sep 1963 17 Dec 1963 103 later Arco Heritage 1974, Bennington 1985, scrapped 1987
628 297353 146 American Rover United States Lines Breakbulk C4-S-68a 11,200 13,500 12.2 15 May 1963 7 Jul 1964 15 Jan 1965 419 192 611 later Austral Pilot 1969, Mormacmoon 1980, American Moon 1983, Mormacmoon 1986, scrapped 2004
629 297001 147 American racer United States Lines Breakbulk C4-S-68a 11,200 13,500 12.2 18 Jun 1963 13 May 1964 12 Nov 1964 330 183 513 later racer 1983, in NDRF
630 298270 148 American Ranger United States Lines Breakbulk C4-S-68a 11,200 13,500 12.2 16 Jul 1963 19 Oct 1964 14 Apr 1965 461 177 638 later Ranger 1983, scrapped 2004
631 299371 149 American Reliance United States Lines Breakbulk C4-S-68a 11,200 13,500 12.2 19 Feb 1964 1 Feb 1965 29 Jun 1965 347 148 495 later Reliance 1983, in NDRF
632 500539 150 American Resolute United States Lines Breakbulk C4-S-68a 11,200 13,500 12.2 3 Jun 1964 16 Sep 1965 24 Sep 1965 470 8 478 later Austral Patriot 1969, Mormacdawn 1980, scrapped 2004
633 502774 160 Santa Lucia Grace Line Breakbulk C4-S1-49a 9,300 10,200 14.2 9 Sep 1964 26 Aug 1965 2 May 1966 351 249 600 later Delta Venezuela 1978, Santa Lucia 1980, in NDRF
634 504681 161 Santa Cruz Grace Line Breakbulk C4-S1-49a 9,300 10,200 14.2 8 Jan 1965 9 Nov 1965 22 Aug 1966 305 286 591 later Delta Ecuador 1975, Santa Cruz 1980, scrapped 2004
635 506249 162 Santa Clara Grace Line Breakbulk C4-S1-49a 9,300 10,200 14.2 5 Mar 1965 8 Mar 1966 19 Dec 1966 368 286 654 later Delta Colombia 1978, Santa Clara 1980, scrapped 1991
636 507696 163 Santa Elena Grace Line Breakbulk C4-S1-49a 9,300 10,200 14.2 11 May 1965 6 Jul 1966 18 Apr 1967 421 286 707 later Delta Panama 1978, Santa Elena 1980, scrapped 2003
637 509186 175 Santa Barbara Grace Line Breakbulk C4-S1-49a 9,300 10,200 14.2 9 Jan 1966 14 Sep 1966 14 Jul 1967 248 303 551 later Delta Bolivia 1978, Santa Barbara 1980, scrapped 1990
638 510570 176 Santa Isabel Grace Line Breakbulk C4-S1-49a 9,300 10,200 14.2 23 Nov 1966 9 Mar 1967 15 Sep 1967 106 190 296 later Delta Peru 1978, Santa Isabel 1980, scrapped 2003
639 Atlantic Gahagan No. 1 Atlantic Gahagan J.V. dredge 24 Jul 1964 9 Jan 1965 169 scrapped
640 514261 184 American Lancer U.S. Lines container ship C7-S-68c 18,800 22,200 17.4 6 Apr 1966 24 Jan 1968 17 May 1968 293 114 407 later Humacao 1988, scrapped 2002
641 515155 185 American Legion U.S. Lines container ship C7-S-68c 18,800 22,100 17.4 3 Oct 1966 27 Feb 1968 9 Jul 1968 512 133 645 later Sea-Land Legion 1987, Sea-Land Challenger 1988, CSX Challenger 2000, Horizon Challenger 2003
642 516464 186 American Liberty U.S. Lines container ship C7-S-68d 18,900 21,700 18.0 9 Jul 1968 17 Sep 1968 70 later Sea-Land Liberty 1987, Sea-Land Discovery 1988, CSX Discovery 2000, Horizon Discovery 2003
643 517450 187 American Lynx U.S. Lines container ship C7-S-68d 18,900 21,700 18.0 26 Sep 1968 9 Dec 1968 74 later Mayaguez 1988, scrapped 2007
644 518444 188 American Lark U.S. Lines container ship C7-S-68d 18,900 20,600 18.0 20 Dec 1968 4 Mar 1969 74 later Sea-Land Legion 1987, Sea-Land Crusader 1988, CSX Crusader 2000, Horizon Crusader 2003, laid up 2009
645 588572 Sunoco 260 Sun Oil Co. tank barge 3,100 5,800 18 Nov 1965 later MSRC 452
646 511744 ADM Wm. M. Callaghan Sunexport Holdings Corp. Ro-Ro (GT) 24,500 14,300 17 Oct 1967 19 Dec 1967 63 T-AKR 1001, in RRF
647 512975 Ponce de Leon Sun Leasing Co. Ro-Ro 15,200 14,500 17 Nov 1967 29 Mar 1968 133 later Ponce 1977, Osprey 1996, scrapped 2000
648 523846 America Sun Millcreek Leasing Co. crude carrier 37,300 80,700 25.0 22 Nov 1969 23 Dec 1969 31 later American Trader 1989, scrapped 1993
649 520694 240 American Astronaut U.S. Lines container ship C7-S-68e 18,900 20,600 16.3 19 Apr 1969 10 Jun 1969 52 later Guayama 1988, scrapped 2002
650 530007 Eric K. Holzer 650 Leasing Co. Ro-Ro 15,200 14,500 18.0 11 Nov 1970 31 Dec 1970 50 later Bayamon 1977, scrapped 2008
651 526588 Joseph D. Potts Kee Leasing Co. crude carrier 42,000 80,800 25.0 21 Apr 1970 22 May 1970 31 later Glacier Bay 1978, scrapped 1993
652 533270 Sohio Intrepid 652 Leasing Co. crude carrier 39,000 80,000 25.0 13 May 1971 24 Jun 1971 42 later Admiralty Bay 1985, scrapped 1994
653 535357 Sohio Resolute 653 Leasing Co. crude carrier 39,000 80,000 25.0 19 Jul 1971 30 Sep 1971 73 later Aspen 1985, scrapped 1993
654 529004 251 American Apollo U.S. Lines container ship C7-S-68e 18,876 20,514 17.6 22 Jul 1970 9 Oct 1970 79 later Nuevo San Juan 1988, scrapped 2003
655 530999 252 American Aquarius U.S. Lines container ship C7-S-68e 18,875 20,480 17.6 15 Dec 1970 4 Mar 1971 79 later Carolina 1988, scrapped 2002
657 542026 Mobil Arctic Mobil Shipping crude carrier 65,000 126,000 65.0 28 Mar 1972 18 Aug 1972 143 later Arctic Hunter 1991, scrapped 1993
660 547919 Notre Dame Victory U.S. Trust Co. of N.Y. crude carrier 37,800 81,100 25.0 6 Mar 1973 18 May 1973 73 later Aquila 1977, Ogden Yukon 1979, OMI Yukon 1986, burned and scrapped 1987
661 547527 Hughes Glomar Explorer Summa Corp. of Texas Mining Ship 27,500 15,000 40.0 4 Nov 1972 23 Jul 1973 261 later Glomar Explorer 1978, GSF Explorer 2004
662 549900 Lurline Matson Navigation Ro-Ro 15,200 14,000 30.0 7 Jun 1973 24 Aug 1973 78
663 544797 Fortaleza U.S. Trust Co. of N.Y. Ro-Ro 15,200 14,000 30.0 15 Oct 1972 28 Dec 1972 74 scrapped 1993
664 553090 Matsonia Matson Navigation Ro-Ro 15,200 14,000 30.0 11 Oct 1973 11 Dec 1973 61
666 557100 El Taino 666 Leasing Co. Ro-Ro 15,200 14,000 30.0 6 Apr 1974 29 May 1974 53 later Gulf Bear 1976, Eastern Light 1979, Caguas 1979, Kainalu 1990, El Morro 1999, scrapped 2014
667 570108 Prince William Sound Keystone Shipping crude carrier 60,100 124,000 70.4 4 Nov 1975 31 Dec 1975 57 scrapped 2010
668 585629 Tonsina Keystone Shipping crude carrier 60,400 123,000 70.4 8 Jun 1977 11 May 1978 337 later S/R Kodiak 2005, Kodiak 2009
669 586127 Kenai Keystone Shipping crude carrier 60,400 123,000 70.4 3 Jun 1978 9 Jan 1979 220 later S/R Sierra 2005, Sierra 2009
670 286749 Puerto Rico 670 Leasing Co. Ro-Ro 14,800 14,000 30.0 1 Nov 1974 16 Jan 1975 76 later Northern Lights 1991, El Faro 2006
673 567835 Great Land 673 Leasing Co. Ro-Ro 18,000 17,300 46.0 17 Jun 1975 22 Aug 1975 66 scrapped 2013
674 573223 Atlantic Bear Pacific Far East Line Ro-Ro 18,000 17,300 46.0 30 Mar 1976 17 May 1976 48 later Atlantic Bear 1976, Atlantic Spirit 1984, Kaimoku 1989, El Yunque 1998
675 581673 Westward Venture 675 Leasing Co. Ro-Ro 18,000 17,300 46.0 15 Feb 1977 20 Apr 1977 64 scrapped 2011
676 628783 New York Sun Sun Oil Co. product carrier 17,000 31,000 36.0 22 Sep 1979 5 Dec 1980 440 later Allegiance 1997, scrapped 2007
677 638073 Philadelphia Sun Sun Oil Co. product carrier 17,000 31,000 36.0 17 Jul 1981 later Perseverance 1997, scrapped 2007
678 621042 Kauai Matson Navigation container ship 26,800 38,800 75.5 2 Nov 1979 27 Aug 1980 299
679 641083 346 John B. Waterman Waterman Line Ro-Ro C7-S-133a 18,500 23,500 68.5 9 Mar 1981 23 Mar 1983 744 completed by Penn Ship
680 641084 347 Thomas Heyward Waterman Line Ro-Ro C7-S-133a 18,500 23,500 68.5 11 Feb 1983 completed by Penn Ship
681 Essayons USACE dredge 65.0 subcontracted to Bath Iron Works
682 655332 351 Charles Carroll Waterman Line Ro-Ro C7-S-133a 18,500 23,500 68.5 subcontracted to GD Quincy
683 644915 HSTC-1 Hawaiian Sugar Tpt. Co. sugar barge 18,750 37,000 45.7 subcontracted to Bath Iron Works

Printed from shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net