List of passenger ships built in the United States

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SS United States, the largest passenger ship built in the U.S. StateLibQld 1 169487 United States (ship) (colorized).jpg
SS United States, the largest passenger ship built in the U.S.

As a result of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, only ships built and registered in the United States are permitted to sail solely between ports in the United States. [1] [2] The Merchant Marine Act of 1928 would continue to incentivize and spur the construction of U.S. built ships through government loans, which would lead the International Mercantile Marine Company and along with other U.S. run shipping lines to order new ships up through World War II. [2]

Contents

The largest passenger liner built in the United States to date is the SS United States, completed in 1952. [3] The last large passenger liner to be completed in the United States was Moore-McCormack Lines' SS Argentina in 1958. [4]

The only US-built deep water passenger ships still in existence today are the SS United States (laid up), former converted cargo liner SS Medina (hotel ship), cargo/passenger liner NS Savannah (museum ship), and the partly US-built Pride of America (still in service). Today, only small coastal and river passenger ships are still built in the U.S. and fly the American flag.

Shipyards

The primary yards that were building passenger ships in the 20th century include:

List

U.S. Built Passenger Ships
NameEntered ServiceLine Built/Rebuilt ForShipyardDesignerStatusNotes
Morro Castle 4408111657 1b41e83e22 o.jpg SS Morro Castle 1900 Ward Line William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia [10] Scrapped 1926Laid down for Plant Line in 1899
SS Kroonland, Antonio Jacobsen, 1903 (adjusted).jpg SS Kroonland 1902 Red Star Line William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Scrapped 1927
SS Finland underway in harbor before 1917.jpg SS Finland 1902 Red Star Line William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Scrapped 1928
SS Minnesota 1905Great Northern Steamship CompanyEastern Shipbuilding Co., New London, Connecticut Scrapped 1923
SS Dakota broadside.jpg SS Dakota 1905Great Northern Steamship CompanyEastern Shipbuilding Co., New London, Connecticut [11] Wrecked & sank 1907
USS Mercy AH-4.jpg SS Saratoga 1907 Ward Line William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Scrapped 1939
1910s
Postcard featuring SS GREAT NORTHERN entering Golden Gate (1916).jpg SS Great Northern 1914Great Northern Pacific Steam Ship Company William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Scrapped 1948
SS Northern Pacific.jpeg SS Northern Pacific 1915Great Northern Pacific Steam Ship Company William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Burned and sank 1922
USAT-Siboney.jpg SS Oriente 1917 Ward Line William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Scrapped 1957Renamed SS Siboney for Ward Line after World War I
USAT Orizaba.jpg SS Orizaba 1917 Ward Line William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Scrapped 1963Commandeered by US Navy prior to launch for World War I, entered passenger service in 1920
1920s
SS President Roosevelt liner postcard c1920s.jpg SS President Roosevelt 1922 United States Line New York Shipbuilding of Camden, New JerseyScrapped 1948
  • Originally built as a Harris-class attack transport towards the end of World War I, as Peninsula State, entered commercial service after her completion.
Ss coamo.jpg SS Coamo1925New York and Porto Rico Steamship Company Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Torpedoed & Sank 1942 [12]
SS Malolo 1927 Matson Line [13] William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Gibbs & Cox [2] Scrapped 1977
Clydei01.jpg SS Iroquois 1927Clyde Steamship Line Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Scrapped 1981 [14]
Clydei01.jpg SS Shawnee July 1927Clyde Steamship Line Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Burned 1949
Yarmouth (ship, 1926).jpg SS YarmouthSeptember 1927 Eastern Steamship Line William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Theodore E. Ferris [15] Scrapped 1979 [16]
Yarmouth (ship, 1926) in 1928.jpg SS Evangeline October 1927 Eastern Steamship Line William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia Theodore E. Ferris [15] Burned & Sank 1965
Moore-McCormack-Good-Neighbor-passenger-liner.jpg SS California 1928 Panama Pacific Lines Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Scrapped 1964
Moore-McCormack-Good-Neighbor-passenger-liner.jpg SS Virginia 1928 Panama Pacific Lines Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Scrapped 1964
Moore-McCormack-Good-Neighbor-passenger-liner.jpg SS Pennsylvania 1929 Panama Pacific Lines Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Scrapped 1964
1930s
SS Morro Castle burning cph.3b14818.jpg SS Morro Castle 1930 Ward Line Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Theodore E. Ferris [2] Burned 1934
USAT Thomas H. Barry (AP-45).jpg SS Oriente 1930 Ward Line Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Theodore E. Ferris [2] Scrapped 1957
SS President Hoover.jpg SS President Hoover 1930 Dollar Steamship Lines Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Wrecked in storm 1937
SS Borinquen 1931New York and Porto Rico Steamship Company Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts [18] Theodore E. Ferris Wrecked 1970
SS President Coolidge (1931) by Newman.jpg SS President Coolidge 1931 Dollar Steamship Lines Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Sunk by Mine 1942
USS Antaeus - 19-N-24325.jpg SS St John 1932 Eastern Steamship Line Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Theodore E. Ferris [15] Scrapped 1959
MARIPOSA making its way into Circular Quay assisted by a tug boat (9548886675).jpg SS Mariposa 1932 Matson Line Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts [19] Gibbs & Cox Scrapped 1974
Ss monterey, 1930s.jpg SS Monterey 1932 Matson Line Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts [20] Gibbs & Cox Sank on way to Scrapyard 2000
USAHS Acadia in Italian Campaign 1943.png SS Acadia 1932 Eastern Steamship Line Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Theodore E. Ferris [15] Sold 1955
SS Manhattan2.jpg SS Manhattan 1932 United States Lines New York Shipbuilding of Camden, New JerseyScrapped 1965Originally ordered for the Transatlantic Steamship Company
SS Santa Rosa 1932 Grace Line Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Kearny, NJ Gibbs & Cox Scrapped 1989
SANTA PAULA on Lake Gatun, Panama Canal 1932.png SS Santa Paula 1933 Grace Line Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Kearny, NJ Gibbs & Cox Scrapped 1971
SS Santa Lucia 1933 Grace Line Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Kearny, NJ Gibbs & Cox Torpedoed & Sank 1942
SS Lurline at Honolulu in the 1930s.jpg SS Lurline 1933 Matson Line Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts [19] Gibbs & Cox Scrapped 1987
SS Santa Elena1933 Grace Line Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Kearny, NJ Gibbs & Cox Torpedoed & Sank 1943 [21]
SS Washington.jpg SS Washington 1933 United States Lines New York Shipbuilding of Camden, New JerseyScrapped 1965Originally ordered for the Transatlantic Steamship Company
1940s
Brochure of SS America (1954).jpg SS America 1940 United States Lines Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia [22] [23] Gibbs & Cox Wrecked in Canary Islands 1994 [22] [24]
"Explorer" - Eleusis, 2004.jpg SS La Guardia 1944/1948 American Export Lines Scrapped in 2005Converted from USS General W. P. Richardson (AP-118), a troopship that served with the United States Navy in World War II
SS President Cleveland 1947 American President Lines Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co, Alameda, CaliforniaScrapped in 1974Originally ordered by the Maritime Commission during World War II, as one of the Admiral-class Type P2-SE2-R1 transport ships, completed instead as passenger ship.
Passenger ship S.S. President Wilson.jpg SS President Wilson 1948 American President Lines Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co, Alameda, CaliforniaScrapped in 1984Originally ordered by the Maritime Commission (MC hull 687) during World War II, as one of the Admiral W. S. Benson-class Type P2-SE2-R1 transport ships, completed instead as passenger ship.
1950s
SS Independence 1951.jpg SS Independence February 1951 American Export Lines Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts [26] Henry Dreyfuss [27] Wrecked on way to scrap yard 2011
Ss Constitution1953.jpg SS Constitution June 1951 American Export Lines Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts [26] Henry Dreyfuss [27] Sank while under tow to shipbreakers, 1997
SS United States HDR off Bow.jpg SS United States 1952 United States Lines Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia [28] Gibbs & Cox [29] Out of Service since 1969, Laid Up
MSC Montery (cropped).jpg SS Monterey 1952/1955 Matson Line Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co, at Sparrow's Point, Maryland [19] Scrapped 2006Ordered by the U.S. Maritime Administration as cargo vessel SS Free State Mariner, completed 1952. [30] Converted to passenger ship by Matson Line in 1955.
Chinese passenger ship JINJIANG.JPEG SS Mariposa 1953/1955 Matson Line Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, MassachusettsBurned & Scrapped 1996Ordered by the U.S. Maritime Administration as cargo vessel SS Pine Tree Mariner, completed 1953. [30] Converted to passenger ship by Matson Line in 1955.
Universe IMO 5028837 P Prince Rupert 07-1992.jpg SS Atlantic 1953/1958 American Export Lines Sun Ship Building & Dry Dock Co., in Chester, PennsylvaniaScrapped 1996Built as “Break Bulk Cargo Ship” for the “US Maritime Commission” in 1953 as the Badger Mariner. Converted to passenger ship by American Export Line in 1958.
The Emerald in Venice, Italy on May 13, 2008.jpg SS Santa Rosa June

1958

 Grace Line Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Gibbs & Cox Scrapped 2012
SS Santa Paula October 1958 Grace Line Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia Gibbs & Cox Bombed as Hotel ship 1990, Scrapped 2002
SS "Argentina" ved Munkholmen (ca. 1964).jpg SS Brasil September 1958 Moore-McCormack Lines Ingalls Shipyards, Pascagoula, Mississippi [4] Scrapped 2004
ARGENTINA. 1963 - Sjohistoriska museet - Fo41127AB.tif SS Argentina December 1958 Moore-McCormack Lines Ingalls Shipyards, Pascagoula, Mississippi [4] Scrapped 2005Last deep water passenger liner to be completed in the United States
2000s
Pride of America in Honolulu.jpg Pride of America 2005 American Classic Voyages/NCL America Ingalls Shipyards, Pascagoula, Mississippi & Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, GermanyIn ServiceOrdered for American Classic Voyages [31]

References

  1. ↑ "Domestic Shipping | MARAD". maritime.dot.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ujifusa, Steven (2012). A man and his ship : America's greatest naval architect and his quest to build the S.S. United States (1st Simon & Schuster hardcover ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN   978-1-4516-4507-1. OCLC   759912560.
  3. ↑ Braynard, Frank O. The Big Ship The Story of the S.S. United States. Nashville. ISBN   978-1-59652-990-8. OCLC   1191044096.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ingalls News - February 7, 1958". www.moore-mccormack.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Newport News Shipbuilding". Newport News Shipbuilding. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Who We Are". Ingalls Shipbuilding. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  7. ↑ "A History of Shipbuilding at Fore River". thomascranelibrary.org. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  8. ↑ Miller, William H. (1999). Passenger liners American style. London: Carmania Press. ISBN   0-9534291-1-3. OCLC   46965718.
  9. ↑ "Passenger Liners". New York Shipbuilding Corporation. May 6, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  10. ↑ "S.S. Morro Castle, Cramps Shipyards, Philadelphia". Library of Congress. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Vast Steamship Launched". The Boston Globe. February 6, 1904. p. 11.
  12. ↑ "Coamo (American Steam passenger ship) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ "History". MATSON. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  14. ↑ "S/S Iroquois - USS Solace - S/S Ankara : A ship that has a lot to tell". FreeShipPlans.com. September 18, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Crockett, David. (1997). Eastern Steamship. Dunbaugh, Edwin., Steamship Historical Society of America. Providence, R.I.: Steamship Historical Society of America, Inc. ISBN   0-913423-11-4. OCLC   41174827.
  16. ↑ "Army Ship Photo Index". NavSource. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  17. ↑ Harnack 1938, p. 303.
  18. ↑ "Large or Otherwise Significant Shipbuilders". June 25, 2014. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  19. 1 2 3 O'Brien, Duncan (October 2014). The grand manner of Matson. Pier 10 Media. ISBN   978-0968673430. OCLC   881138788.
  20. ↑ O'Brien, Duncan (2008). The white ships : Matson Line to Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia via Samoa, Fiji, 1927-1978. Victoria, B.C.: Pier 10 Media. ISBN   978-0-9686734-1-6. OCLC   1029646221.
  21. ↑ "Harvey Station, New Brunswick - Genealogy - Lt. Margaret A. Briggs". history.earthsci.carleton.ca. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  22. 1 2 Driscoll, Lawrence (2003). S.S. America, U.S.S. West Point, S.S. Australis : the many lives of a great ship (1st ed.). Palo Alto, Calif.: Glencannon Press. ISBN   1-889901-30-X. OCLC   52239668.
  23. ↑ "AMERICA". vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  24. ↑ "SS America | MARAD". www.maritime.dot.gov. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  25. ↑ Plowman, Peter (2006). The Chandris liners and celebrity cruises. Dural, N.S.W.: Rosenberg. ISBN   978-1-877058-47-9. OCLC   162119399.
  26. 1 2 Miller, William H. (2001). SS Independence, SS Constitution : great American ocean liners (1st ed.). Fleischmanns, N.Y.: Purple Mountain Press. ISBN   1-930098-31-6. OCLC   48039110.
  27. 1 2 Roden, Christian T. (December 1, 2015). "Henry Dreyfuss Designs the Postwar Ocean Liner" . Winterthur Portfolio. 49 (4): 137–173. doi:10.1086/686143. ISSN   0084-0416. S2CID   111640066.
  28. ↑ Maxtone-Graham, John (2014). SS United States : Red, White & Blue Ribband, Forever (First ed.). New York. ISBN   978-0-393-24170-9. OCLC   890377082.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  29. ↑ "Naval Architecture & Engineering Firm | Mission & History". Gibbs & Cox, Inc. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  30. 1 2 "SS Monterey (3)". ssmaritime.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  31. ↑ "AMERICAN CLASSIC VOYAGES CO. (AMCV) SIGNS MAJOR CONTRACT WITH INGALLS FOR LUXURY CRUISE SHIP CONSTRUCTION". August 14, 2007. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2020.

Bibliography

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