Military Wiki
Type C6 ship
Auxiliary Crane Ship SS Grand Canyon State
Type C6 ship SS Grand Canyon State as a converted auxiliary crane ship.
Class overview
Builders:

Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding, Mobile, Alabama (MA-8 and MA-10)
Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway Yard, Baltimore, Maryland (MA-12 and MA-15)

Ingalls Shipbuilding (West Yard), Pascagoula, Mississippi (MA164-166; MA-244 - MA-247)

Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock, Norfolk, Virginia (MA-14)

Todd Shipyards, Galveston, Texas (MA-9 and MA-13)

Todd Shipyards, Brooklyn, New York (MA-30)

Todd Shipyards, Seattle, Washington (MA-164 - MA-166)
Operators: United States Maritime Commission
Preceded by: Type C4 and C5 class ships
Succeeded by: Type C7 container ship
Subclasses: Four
Completed: 19
Active: 3
Laid up: 1; 3 in NDRF
Scrapped: 12
General characteristics
Type: C6-S-1qa partial container ship (3 converted from C4-S-1a)
C6-S-1w container ship (8 converted from C4-S-1a)
C6-S-85a container ship (4 new built)
C6-S-85b container ship (3 new built)
Tonnage: 16,820 gross tons (C6-S-1qa)
15,830 gross tons (C6-S-1w)
21,150 gross tons (C6-S-85a)
21,500 gross tons (C6-S-85b)
Length: 668.65 ft (203.80 m)(C6-S-1qc)
661.17 ft (201.52 m) (C6-S-1w)
669.67 ft (204.12 m) (C6-S-85a)
Beam: 76 ft (23 m)(C6-S-1qc)
76 ft (23 m)(C6-S-1w)
90 ft (27 m)(C6-S-85a)
Draft: 33.08 ft (10.08 m) (C6-S-1qc)
27 ft (8.2 m) (C6-S-1w)
29 ft (8.8 m) (C6-S-85a)
Speed: 19.5 - 22.5 knots
Range: 13,700 miles (C6-S-1qc)
9,400 miles (C6-S-1w)
16,200 miles (C6-S-85a)
Complement: Varied by design type

The Type C6 ship is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) designation for a container ship developed during the transition years from moving goods by breakbulk cargo to containerization. The Type C4 ships Mariner class, arranged with its house/engine-room in the center vessel with cargo hatches at 4 forward and 2 aft, was very successful. Eleven Type C4 ships were converted into Type C6 container ships, and eight vessels were new built. As of December 2011, three converted C4s are extant as crane ships in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, and three of the new-built C6s remain in active service.

American President Lines[]

Three vessels of the American President Lines had been built in 1966 as Type C4-S-1qa ships by National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, California. Between 1972 and 1973 these breakbulk cargo vessels were converted into partial containerships.[1] The conversion work was done at Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington. Overall length was extended by 105 ft. Bow thrusters were also fitted into the ships for improved maneuverability along with an improved stabilization system.[2] Between 1984-1986 all three vessels were acquired by the U.S.Navy and re-fitted as Auxiliary Crane Ships for use by the Military Sealift Command (C6-S-MA1qd).[3] As of 31 December 2011 all three of these converted vessels were listed in Ready Reserve Force, National Defense Reserve Fleet.[4]

Type C4-S-1qa Breakbulk Cargo Ship Conversions to Type C6-S-1qa Container Ship
Original Name MARAD No. National Steel Hull No. Notes
President Polk (3) MA-164 338 [5] 1986 conversion to a crane ship at Dillingham Ship Repair (Portland, OR); renamed Grand Canyon State (T-ACS 3)[5]
President Monroe (3) MA-165 339 [5] 1986 conversion to a crane ship at Dillingham Ship Repair (Portland, OR); renamed Gem State (T-ACS 2)[5]
President Harrison (3) MA-166 340 [5] 1984 conversion to a crane ship at Manitowoc (WI); renamed Keystone State (T-ACS 1)[5]

The American President lines also took delivery on four new built ships, designated Type C6-S-85b, the Pacesetters,[6] from Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Three were delivered in 1973 and the fourth in 1974. Between 1979 and 1982 the vessels were traded in to MARAD as partial down payment for new ships. They were first laid up at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet but were eventually scrapped.

New built C6-S-85b Container Ships
Ship Name MARAD No. Ingalls Hull No. Notes
President Jefferson (3) MA-248 1184 [7] Scrapped 2001[8]
President Madison (4) MA-249 1185 [7] Scrapped 1999
President Pierce (3) MA-250 1186 [7] Scrapped 2005 [9]
President Johnson (5) MA-255 1187 [7] Scrapped 1999

United States Lines[]

The United States Lines choose all 8 of their C4-S-1a cargo vessels for conversion to C6-S-1w container ships. The conversion work was divided among five shipyards, and the vessels re-entered service between late 1970 and early 1971. The vessel overall length was increased by approximately 100 ft. The vessels remained in service until 1983 when they were laid-up at New York City but in 1985 all eight vessels were scrapped.[3]

Type C4-S-1a Breakbulk Cargo Ship Conversions to Type C6-S-1w Container Ship
C6 Ship Name MARAD No./Name Original Builder/ Hull No./Year Rebuilder Notes
American Archer MA-8/Cotton Mariner Ingalls / 461/ 1953[10] Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Pioneer Mist 1956-1970. Laid up 1983, Scrapped 1985 in Kaohsiung
American Legend MA-9/Pelican Mariner Ingalls/ 462/ 1954 [7] Todd Shipyards, Galveston Pioneer Myth 1956-1971. Laid up 1983, Scrapped 1986 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
American Argosy MA-10/Peninsula Mariner Ingalls /463 /1954[10] Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Pioneer Main 1956-1970. Laid up 1983, Scrapped 1986 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
American Accord MA-12/Mountain Mariner Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard /4508 /1953[11] Bethlehem Steel Key Highway Yard Pioneer Mart 1956-1971. Laid up 1983, Scrapped 1986 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
American Leader (3) MA-13/Gopher Mariner Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard /4509 /1954[11] Todd Shipyards, Galveston Pioneer Minx 1956-1970. Laid up 1983, Scrapped 1985 Castellon de la Plana, Spain.
American Alliance MA-14/Show Me Mariner Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard /4510 /1954[11] Norfolk Shipbuilding Pioneer Mill 1956-1970. Laid up 1983, Scrapped 1987 in Kaohsiung.
American Ace MA-15/Sunflower Mariner Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard /4510 /1954[11] Bethlehem Steel Key Highway Yard Pioneer Moor 1956-1970. Laid up 1983, Scrapped 1986 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
American Legacy MA-30/Silver Mariner New York Ship/ 496/ 1954[12] Todd Shipyards, Brooklyn Pioneer Ming 1956-1970. Laid up 1983, Scrapped 1986 Castellon de la Plana, Spain.

Farrell Lines[]

The Farrell Lines commissioned naval architect George G. Sharp to develop a design for their rapidly growing services. The four new-built vessels were designated as Type C6-S-85a by the Maritime Commission. The vessels were built at the Ingalls Shibuilding(West Yard) with delivery starting in December 1970. The ships operated between U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ports and to Australia and New Zealand.[3]

New built C6-S-85a Container Ships
Original Name MARAD No. Ingalls Hull No. Notes
Austral Envoy MA-244 1180 [7] Modified to Type C8 in 1984, in service 2012 as Horizon Navigator (IMO 7116315)[13]
Austral Ensign MA-245 1181 [7] Later Horizon Fairbanks (IMO 7218462); Laid up 2010[14]
Austral Endurance MA-246 1182 [7] In service 2012 as Horizon Hawaii (IMO 7233278)[13]
Austral Entente MA-247 1183 [7] Modified to Type C8 in 1983, in service 2012 as Horizon Trader (IMO 7326233)[13]

References[]

  1. "Vigor Industrial, Seattle WA". Tim Colton, ShipbuildingHistory.com. http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/active/toddseattle.htm. Retrieved 10 March 2012. 
  2. "C4-S-1A Mariner". Global Security.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/mariner.htm. Retrieved 11 Marsh 2012. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Profiles of Maritime Administration Vessels - The C6-Designs". Frank A. Gerhardt, Shipbuilding under the US Maritime Commission. http://drawings.usmaritimecommission.de/drawings_c6_s_xx_types.htm. Retrieved 10 March 2012. 
  4. "National Defence Reserve Fleet Inventory December 31, 2011". US Department of Transportation. http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/i111231.pdf. Retrieved 11 March 2012. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "American President Lines 1952-1969 Vessel History". American President Lines. http://www.apl.com/history/timeline/stat8.htm#classc4s1qa. Retrieved 11 March 2012. 
  6. "American President Lines 1971-1974 Vessel History". American President Lines. http://www.apl.com/history/timeline/stat9.htm. Retrieved 11 Marsh 2012. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 "Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula, MS". Tim Colton, ShipbuildingHistory.com. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/active/ingalls.htm. Retrieved 10 March 2012. 
  8. "Chief Officer aboard Master Cody January 13 - May 31, 2001". aladdin.st. http://www.aladdin.st/cody/cody.html. Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
  9. "MSC LAUREN - IMO 7320409". ShipSpotting.com. http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=531391. Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 "BAE Systems Southeast, Mobile AL". Tim Colton, ShipbuildingHistory.com. http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/active/alabama.htm. Retrieved 10 March 2012. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point MD". Tim Colton, ShipbuildingHistory.com. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/inactive/bethsparrowspoint.htm. Retrieved 10 March 2012. 
  12. "New York Shipbuilding, Camden. NJ". Tim Colton, ShipbuildingHistory.com. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/inactive/newyorkship.htm. Retrieved 10 March 2012. 
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Horizon Lines Vessel Information". Horizon Lines Inc.. http://www.horizonlines.com/getdoc/f4c9fcbb-4f12-42ef-b78d-76bb8937dcf4/HorizonLines_Vessel_Information_May2010.aspx. Retrieved 11 March 2012. 
  14. LeFeuvre, Cameron (26 October 2010). "A brief history of the Horizon Fairbanks". http://westernfrontonline.net/news/12706-a-brief-history-of-the-horizon-fairbanks. Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
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