Special-Purpose Ships Built in U.S. Shipyards Since WWII
Most recent update: April 16, 2020.
Between WWII and 1982, when CDS funding was cut off, 30 special-purpose ships were built under MARAD's oversight.
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Year | Type | Name | Customer | Builder | MA # | MA Design | GT | DWT | Price ($M) | Notes | ||
1955 | refrig. stores ship | Rigel | MARAD | Ingalls SB | 464 | AF-58 | 36 | R3-S-4a | 2,500 | scrapped 2008 | ||
1955 | refrig. stores ship | Vega | MARAD | Ingalls SB | 465 | AF-59 | 37 | R3-S-4a | 2,500 | scrapped 1977 | ||
1958 | assault ship | Point Barrow | MARAD | Maryland Shipbuilding | AKD-1 | 43 | ST-S2-23a | later Point Loma (AGDS 2), scrapped 2006 | ||||
1957 | freighter | Eltanin | MARAD | Avondale Industries | 801 | AK-270 | 46 | C1-ME2-12a | 2,500 | later AGOR 8, scrapped 1992 | ||
1958 | freighter | Mirfak | MARAD | Avondale Industries | 802 | AK-271 | 47 | C1-ME2-12a | 2,500 | scrapped 2003 | ||
1958 | freighter | Mizar | MARAD | Avondale Industries | 803 | AK-272 | 48 | C1-ME2-12a | 2,500 | later AGOR 11, scrapped 2005 | ||
1960 | survey ship | Surveyor | NOAA | NASSCO | 316 | 54 | S2-S-RM28a | 2,650 | 7 | NDRF 1981, sold 1995 | ||
1962 | passenger cargo ship | Savannah | MARAD | New York Ship | 529 | 287392 | 55 | P2-N1-40a | 10,000 | 16,000 | NDRF | |
1960 | special-purpose barge | Atomic Servant | NASA | Todd Houston | 255 | 85 | B2-51a | |||||
1963 | survey ship | Peirce | NOAA | Marietta Mfg. | 902 | S-328 | 130 | S1-MT-59a | 907 | 2 | donated to NYC-1993, E. A. Fisher | |
1963 | survey ship | Whiting | NOAA | Marietta Mfg. | 903 | S-329 | 131 | S1-MT-59a | 907 | 2 | decommissioned 2003 | |
1966 | research ship | Oceanographer | NOAA | Jacksonville | 633 | R-101 | 145 | S2-MET-62a | 3,700 | 10 | sold 1995 | |
1967 | research ship | Discoverer | NOAA | Jacksonville | 634 | R-102 | 155 | S2-MET-62a | 3,700 | 9 | sold 1996 for conversion to cruise ship LaMer, but not converted | |
1968 | survey ship | Mount Mitchell | NOAA | Jacksonville | 639 | S-223 | 183 | S1-MT-27a | 1,800 | 5 | sold 1995 | |
1966 | survey ship | McArthur | NOAA | Norshipco | 164 | S-330 | 189 | S1-MT-70a | 995 | 3 | to Marshall Islands 2003, sold 2006 | |
1967 | survey ship | Davidson | NOAA | Norshipco | 165 | S-331 | 190 | S1-MT-70a | 995 | 3 | sold 1989 | |
1967 | survey ship | Rude | NOAA | Jakobson | 428 | S-590 | 195 | S1-MT-71a | 220 | 1 | ||
1967 | survey ship | Heck | NOAA | Jakobson | 429 | S-591 | 196 | S1-MT-71a | 220 | 1 | sold 1995 | |
1968 | survey ship | Fairweather | NOAA | Jacksonville | 644 | S-221 | 197 | S1-MT-63a | 1,800 | 5 | ||
1968 | survey ship | Rainier | NOAA | Jacksonville | 645 | S-222 | 198 | S1-MT-63a | 1,800 | 5 | ||
1970 | research ship | Researcher | NOAA | AmShip Toledo | 198 | R-103 | 219 | S2-MT-74a | 2,750 | 9 | later Malcolm Baldridge, Ushuaia | |
1968 | research ship | Hero | N.S.F. | Harvey Gamage | 238 | 220 | SV-BP | |||||
1968 | research ship | Ferrel | NOAA | Zigler Shipyards | 187 | R-492 | 226 | S1-MT-83a | 360 | 1 | decommissioned 2002 | |
1968 | buoy tender | NOAA | Equitable Equipment | 1497 | 227 | S1-MT-83a | ||||||
1968 | hydrographic station | NOAA | Equitable Equipment | 1508 | 239 | S1-MT-84a | ||||||
1982 | trailer barge | American/Caroline | Coord. Carib. Tpt. | Seatrain Sbldg. | 105 | 323 | IB5-MT-121a | 14,000 | 6,680 | 21 | completed by Norshipco, Strong American | |
1978 | heavy lift ship | John Henry | Am. Heavy Lift | Peterson Builders | 9411 | 329 | C1-MT-123a | 3,000 | 4,500 | 17 | to NDRF 1986, to Worldwide Water Fndn 2000 as Revival, barge MarineLift Explorer 2008, Chaulk Lifter 2013, Coastal Titan 2015 | |
1979 | heavy lift ship | Paul Bunyan | Am. Heavy Lift | Peterson Builders | 9412 | 330 | C1-MT-123a | 3,000 | 4,500 | 17 | to NDRF 1987, renamed James McHenry, scrapped 2015 | |
1980 | research ship | Chapman | NOAA | Bender Shipbuilding | 748 | R-446 | 335 | S1-M-124a | 520 | 3 | deactivated 1988, for sale | |
1982 | island cargo ship | P'tit Bleu II | Blue Lines | Atlantic Marine | 187 | 356 | N1-MT-138a | 1 |