SS Francis Scott Key

Last updated

History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameFrancis Scott Key
Namesake Francis Scott Key
Owner War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator Lykes Brothers Steamship Company
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 16
Awarded14 March 1941
Builder Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland [1]
Cost$1,470,687 [2]
Yard number2003
Way number3
Laid down21 June 1941
Launched15 November 1941
Completed29 January 1942
Identification
Fate
General characteristics [3]
Class and type
Tonnage
Displacement
Length
  • 441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa
  • 416 feet (127 m) pp
  • 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam57 feet (17 m)
Draft27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m)
Installed power
  • 2 × Oil fired 450 °F (232 °C) boilers, operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa)
  • 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Propulsion
Speed11.5 knots (21.3  km/h; 13.2  mph)
Capacity
  • 562,608 cubic feet (15,931 m3) (grain)
  • 499,573 cubic feet (14,146 m3) (bale)
Complement
Armament

SS Francis Scott Key was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet from Frederick, Maryland, who is best known for writing the lyrics for the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner".

Contents

Construction

Francis Scott Key was laid down on 21 June 1941, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 16, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; and was launched on 15 November 1941. [1] [2]

History

Francis Scott Key was allocated to Lykes Brothers Steamship Company, on 29 January 1942. On 20 October 1949, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria, Oregon. On 22 June 1954, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1954", she returned loaded on 9 July 1954. On 14 March 1957, Francis Scott Key was withdrawn to be unload, she returned empty 19 March 1957. She was sold for scrapping on 14 August 1967, to Zidell Explorations, Inc., for $54,001. She was removed from the fleet, 29 August 1967. [4]

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