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.
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       Later Point Loma (AGDS 2), scrapped 2006
1957 Cargo Ship Eltanin MARAD Avondale Industries 801 AK 270 46 C1-ME2-12a 2,500     Later AGOR 8, scrapped 1992
1958 Cargo Ship Mirfak MARAD Avondale Industries 802 AK 271 47 C1-ME2-12a 2,500     Scrapped 2003
1958 Cargo Ship Mizar MARAD Avondale Industries 803 AK 272 48 C1-ME2-12a 2,500     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