List of passenger ships built in the United States explained

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] 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.

The largest passenger liner built in the United States to date is the SS United States, completed in 1952.[2] The last large passenger liner to be completed in the United States was Moore-McCormack Lines' SS Argentina in 1958.[3]

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!!Name!Entered Service!Line Built/Rebuilt For!Shipyard!Designer!Status!Notes
SS Morro Castle1900Ward LineWilliam Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia[9] Scrapped 1926Laid down for Plant Line in 1899
SS Kroonland1902Red Star LineWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaScrapped 1927
SS Finland1902Red Star LineWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaScrapped 1928
1905Great Northern Steamship Company Eastern Shipbuilding Co., New London, ConnecticutScrapped 1923
SS Dakota1905Great Northern Steamship Company Eastern Shipbuilding Co., New London, Connecticut[10] Wrecked & sank 1907
1907Ward LineWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaScrapped 1939
1910s
SS Great Northern1914Great Northern Pacific Steam Ship CompanyWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaScrapped 1948
SS Northern Pacific1915Great Northern Pacific Steam Ship CompanyWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaBurned and sank 1922
SS Oriente1917Ward LineWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaScrapped 1957Renamed SS Siboney for Ward Line after World War I
SS Orizaba1917Ward LineWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaScrapped 1963Commandeered by US Navy prior to launch for World War I, entered passenger service in 1920
1920s
SS President Roosevelt1922United States LineNew York Shipbuilding of Camden, New JerseyScrapped 1948
  • Originally built as a Harris-classattack transport towards the end of World War I, as Peninsula State, entered commercial service after her completion.
SS Coamo1925New York and Porto Rico Steamship Company Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaTorpedoed & Sank 1942[11]
SS Malolo1927Matson Line[12] William Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaGibbs & Cox[13] Scrapped 1977
1927Clyde Steamship LineNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaScrapped 1981[14]
SS ShawneeJuly 1927Clyde Steamship LineNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaBurned 1949
SS YarmouthSeptember 1927Eastern Steamship LineWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaTheodore E. Ferris[15] Scrapped 1979[16]
SS EvangelineOctober 1927Eastern Steamship LineWilliam Cramp & Sons, PhiladelphiaTheodore E. FerrisBurned & Sank 1965
1928Panama Pacific LinesNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaScrapped 1964
1928Panama Pacific LinesNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaScrapped 1964
1929Panama Pacific LinesNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaScrapped 1964
1930s
SS Morro Castle1930Ward LineNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaTheodore E. FerrisBurned 1934
SS Oriente1930Ward LineNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaTheodore E. FerrisScrapped 1957
SS President Hoover1930Dollar Steamship LinesNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaWrecked in storm 1937
SS Borinquen1931New York and Porto Rico Steamship CompanyFore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts[17] Theodore E. FerrisWrecked 1970
SS President Coolidge1931Dollar Steamship LinesNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaSunk by Mine 1942
SS St John1932Eastern Steamship LineNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaTheodore E. FerrisScrapped 1959
SS Mariposa1932Matson LineFore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts[18] Gibbs & CoxScrapped 1974
SS Monterey1932Matson LineFore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts[19] Gibbs & CoxSank on way to Scrapyard 2000
SS Acadia1932Eastern Steamship LineNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaTheodore E. FerrisSold 1955
SS Manhattan1932United States LinesNew York Shipbuilding of Camden, New JerseyScrapped 1965Originally ordered for the Transatlantic Steamship Company
SS Santa Rosa1932Grace LineFederal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Kearny, NJGibbs & CoxScrapped 1989
SS Santa Paula1933Grace LineFederal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Kearny, NJGibbs & CoxScrapped 1971
SS Santa Lucia1933Grace LineFederal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Kearny, NJGibbs & CoxTorpedoed & Sank 1942
SS Lurline1933Matson LineFore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, MassachusettsGibbs & CoxScrapped 1987
SS Santa Elena1933Grace LineFederal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Kearny, NJGibbs & CoxTorpedoed & Sank 1943[20]
SS Washington1933United States LinesNew York Shipbuilding of Camden, New JerseyScrapped 1965Originally ordered for the Transatlantic Steamship Company
1940s
SS America1940United States LinesNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia[21] [22] Gibbs & CoxWrecked in Canary Islands 1994[23]
SS La Guardia1944/1948American 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 Cleveland1947American President LinesBethlehem 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.
SS President Wilson1948American President LinesBethlehem 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 IndependenceFebruary 1951American Export LinesFore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts[25] Henry Dreyfuss[26] Wrecked on way to scrap yard 2011
SS ConstitutionJune 1951American Export LinesFore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, MassachusettsHenry Dreyfuss Sank while under tow to shipbreakers, 1997
SS United States1952United States LinesNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia[27] Gibbs & Cox[28] Out of Service since 1969, Laid Up
SS Monterey1952/1955Matson LineBethlehem Shipbuilding Co, at Sparrow's Point, MarylandScrapped 2006Ordered by the U.S. Maritime Administration as cargo vessel SS Free State Mariner, completed 1952.[29] Converted to passenger ship by Matson Line in 1955.
SS Mariposa1953/1955Matson LineFore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, MassachusettsBurned & Scrapped 1996Ordered by the U.S. Maritime Administration as cargo vessel SS Pine Tree Mariner, completed 1953. Converted to passenger ship by Matson Line in 1955.
SS Atlantic1953/1958American Export LinesSun 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.
SS Santa RosaJune 1958Grace LineNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaGibbs & CoxScrapped 2012
SS Santa PaulaOctober 1958Grace LineNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, VirginiaGibbs & CoxBombed as Hotel ship 1990, Scrapped 2002
SS BrasilSeptember 1958Moore-McCormack LinesIngalls Shipyards, Pascagoula, MississippiScrapped 2004
SS ArgentinaDecember 1958Moore-McCormack LinesIngalls Shipyards, Pascagoula, MississippiScrapped 2005Last deep water passenger liner to be completed in the United States
2000s
Pride of America2005American Classic Voyages/NCL AmericaIngalls Shipyards, Pascagoula, Mississippi & Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, GermanyIn ServiceOrdered for American Classic Voyages[30]

References

  1. Web site: Domestic Shipping MARAD. 2020-12-31. maritime.dot.gov.
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  3. Web site: Ingalls News - February 7, 1958. 2020-12-31. www.moore-mccormack.com.
  4. Web site: Newport News Shipbuilding. 2020-12-31. Newport News Shipbuilding. en-US.
  5. Web site: Who We Are. 2020-12-31. Ingalls Shipbuilding. en-US.
  6. Web site: A History of Shipbuilding at Fore River. 2020-12-31. thomascranelibrary.org.
  7. Book: Miller, William H.. Passenger liners American style. 1999. Carmania Press. 0-9534291-1-3. London. 46965718.
  8. Web site: 2016-05-06. Passenger Liners. 2020-12-31. New York Shipbuilding Corporation. en.
  9. Web site: S.S. Morro Castle, Cramps Shipyards, Philadelphia. 2021-01-04. Library of Congress.
  10. News: February 6, 1904. Vast Steamship Launched. The Boston Globe. 11.
  11. Web site: Coamo (American Steam passenger ship) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net. 2021-01-20. uboat.net.
  12. Web site: History. 2020-12-31. MATSON. en-US.
  13. Book: Ujifusa, Steven. A man and his ship : America's greatest naval architect and his quest to build the S.S. United States. 2012. Simon & Schuster. 978-1-4516-4507-1. 1st Simon & Schuster hardcover. New York. 759912560.
  14. Web site: 2013-09-18. S/S Iroquois - USS Solace - S/S Ankara : A ship that has a lot to tell. 2021-01-17. FreeShipPlans.com. en-US.
  15. Book: Crockett, David.. Eastern Steamship. 1997. Steamship Historical Society of America, Inc. Dunbaugh, Edwin., Steamship Historical Society of America.. 0-913423-11-4. Providence, R.I.. 41174827.
  16. Web site: Army Ship Photo Index. 2021-01-15. www.navsource.org.
  17. Web site: 2014-06-25. Large or Otherwise Significant Shipbuilders. 2021-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20140625075733/http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large.htm. 2014-06-25.
  18. Book: O'Brien, Duncan. The grand manner of Matson. October 2014. Pier 10 Media . 978-0968673430. 881138788.
  19. Book: O'Brien, Duncan. The white ships : Matson Line to Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia via Samoa, Fiji, 1927-1978. 2008. Pier 10 Media. 978-0-9686734-1-6. Victoria, B.C.. 1029646221.
  20. Web site: Harvey Station, New Brunswick - Genealogy - Lt. Margaret A. Briggs. 2020-12-31. history.earthsci.carleton.ca.
  21. Book: Driscoll, Lawrence. S.S. America, U.S.S. West Point, S.S. Australis : the many lives of a great ship. 2003. Glencannon Press. 1-889901-30-X. 1st. Palo Alto, Calif.. 52239668.
  22. Web site: AMERICA. 2021-05-04. vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov.
  23. Web site: SS America MARAD. 2021-05-04. www.maritime.dot.gov.
  24. Book: Plowman, Peter. The Chandris liners and celebrity cruises. 2006. Rosenberg. 978-1-877058-47-9. Dural, N.S.W.. 162119399.
  25. Book: Miller, William H.. SS Independence, SS Constitution : great American ocean liners. 2001. Purple Mountain Press. 1-930098-31-6. 1st. Fleischmanns, N.Y.. 48039110.
  26. Roden. Christian T.. 2015-12-01. Henry Dreyfuss Designs the Postwar Ocean Liner. Winterthur Portfolio. 49. 4. 137–173. 10.1086/686143. 111640066. 0084-0416.
  27. Book: Maxtone-Graham, John. SS United States : Red, White & Blue Ribband, Forever. 2014. 978-0-393-24170-9. First. New York. 890377082.
  28. Web site: Naval Architecture & Engineering Firm Mission & History. 2020-12-31. Gibbs & Cox, Inc.. en-US.
  29. Web site: SS Monterey (3). 2020-12-31. ssmaritime.com.
  30. Web site: 2007-08-14. AMERICAN CLASSIC VOYAGES CO. (AMCV) SIGNS MAJOR CONTRACT WITH INGALLS FOR LUXURY CRUISE SHIP CONSTRUCTION. 2020-12-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20070814064931/http://www.ss.northropgrumman.com/press/news/m_03_9_99.html. 2007-08-14.

External links

Bibliography

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