Special-Purpose Ships Built in U.S. Shipyards Since WWII
Most recent update: June 5, 2015.
Between WWII and 1982, when CDS funding was cut off, 30 special-purpose ships were built under MARAD's oversight.
Year Type Original Name Original Owner Shipbuilder Hull # O.N. MA # MA Design GT DWT Price ($mm) 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 Shipbldg. AKD 1 43 ST-S2-23a AKD 1, later Point Loma (AGDS 2), scrapped 2006 1957 Cargo Ship Eltanin MARAD Avondale Industries 801 AK 270 46 C1-ME2-12a 2,500 AK 270, later AGOR 8, scrapped 1992 1958 Cargo Ship Mirfak MARAD Avondale Industries 802 AK 271 47 C1-ME2-12a 2,500 AK 271, scrapped 2003 1958 Cargo Ship Mizar MARAD Avondale Industries 803 AK 272 48 C1-ME2-12a 2,500 AK 272, later AGOR 11, scrapped 2005 1960 Survey Ship Surveyor N.O.A.A. NASSCO 316 54 S2-S-RM28a 2,650 na 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 N.A.S.A. Todd Houston 255 85 B2-51a Active 1963 Survey Ship Peirce N.O.A.A. Marietta Mfg. 902 S 328 130 S1-MT-59a 907 na 2 Donated to NYC 1993, now E. A. Fisher 1963 Survey Ship Whiting N.O.A.A. Marietta Mfg. 903 S 329 131 S1-MT-59a 907 na 2 Decommissioned 2003 1966 Research Ship Oceanographer N.O.A.A. Jacksonville 633 R 101 145 S2-MET-62a 3,700 na 10 Sold 1995 1967 Research Ship Discoverer N.O.A.A. Jacksonville 634 R 102 155 S2-MET-62a 3,700 na 9 Sold 1996 for conversion to cruise ship LaMer, but not converted; disposition unknown 1968 Survey Ship Mount Mitchell N.O.A.A. Jacksonville 639 S 223 183 S1-MT-27a 1,800 na 5 Sold 1995 1966 Survey Ship McArthur N.O.A.A. Norshipco 164 S 330 189 S1-MT-70a 995 na 3 To Marshall Islands 2003, sold 2006 1967 Survey Ship Davidson N.O.A.A. Norshipco 165 S 331 190 S1-MT-70a 995 na 3 Sold 1989 1967 Survey Ship Rude N.O.A.A. Jakobson 428 S 590 195 S1-MT-71a 220 na 1 Active 1967 Survey Ship Heck N.O.A.A. Jakobson 429 S 591 196 S1-MT-71a 220 na 1 Sold 1995 1968 Survey Ship Fairweather N.O.A.A. Jacksonville 644 S 221 197 S1-MT-63a 1,800 na 5 Active 1968 Survey Ship Rainier N.O.A.A. Jacksonville 645 S 222 198 S1-MT-63a 1,800 na 5 Active 1970 Research Ship Researcher N.O.A.A. AmShip Toledo 198 R 103 219 S2-MT-74a 2,750 na 9 Later Malcolm Baldridge, now Ushuaia 1968 Research Ship Hero N.S.F. Harvey Gamage 238 220 SV-BP 1968 Research Ship Ferrel N.O.A.A. Zigler Shipyards 187 R 492 226 S1-MT-83a 360 na 1 Decommissioned 2002 1968 Buoy Tender No name N.O.A.A. Equitable Equipment 1497 227 S1-MT-83a 1968 Hydrographic Station No name N.O.A.A. 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, now 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 N.O.A.A. Bender Shipbuilding 748 R 446 335 S1-M-124a 520 na 3 Deactivated 1988, for sale 1982 Island Cargo Ship P'tit Bleu II Blue Lines Atlantic Marine 187 356 N1-MT-138a 1 Active