Outboard Profiles of Maritime Administration  Vessels

The C4 Designs

All Drawings by Karsten-Kunibert Krueger-Kopiske 2007

The Mariner Class (C4-S-1a) and her Subdesigns
Design: C4-S-1a Bethlehem Steel Co., SB Division, Quincy, Massachussetts
(Breakbulk) MA-16 to 20 (5 Built) / Old Colony Mariner, Cornhusker State Mariner, Pine Tree Mariner, Nutmeg Mariner, Wolverine Mariner
Bethlehem Steel Co., SB Division, Sparrows Point, Maryland
MA-11 to 15 (5 Built) / Free State Mariner, Mountain Mariner, Gopher Mariner, Show Me Mariner, Sunflower Mariner
Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco, California
MA-31 (1 Built) / Golden Mariner
Ingalls SB Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi
MA-6 to 10 (5 Built) / Lone Star Mariner, Magnolia Mariner, Cotton Mariner, Pelican Mariner, Peninsula Mariner
Newport News SB & DD Co., Newport News, Virginia
MA-1 to 5 (5 Built) / Old Dominium Mariner, Tar Heel Mariner, Volunteer Mariner, Palmetto Mariner, Cracker State Mariner
New York SB Corp., Camden, New Jersey
MA-26 to 30 (5 BUilt) / Garden Mariner, Diamond Mariner, Empire State Mariner, Prairie Mariner, Silver Mariner
Sun SB & DD Co., Chester, Pennsylvania
MA-21 to 25 ( 5 Built) / Keystone Mariner, Buckeye Mariner, Hoosier Mariner, Bagder Mariner, Hawkeye Mariner
The C4-S-1a was the first design completely developed by the newly formed Maritime Administration. Based on examination about the future needs in cargo ships, this design was larger, faster with larger cargo capacity as the the vessels build by the Maritime Commission. Preliminary plans were prepared by Marad. Contract plans and specifications were developed by Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, which acted as Design Agent for the Marad. The C4-S-1a Mariner, was a traditional house / engine -room center vessel with 4 hatches forward and 2 aft. The machinery consist a 19,250 shp turbine gave the vessel a top speed of 20 knots. All vessels were delivered between October 1952 and August 1954 and operated an average between six and eightheen months before they were laid up. This drawing shows an C4-S-1a in Waterman colors (2 operated under GAA for Marad and 4 bought in 1974-75).
Design: C4-S-1f Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco, California
(Breakbulk) MA-33 to 35 (3 Built) / Golden, Bear, Korean Bear, Japan Bear
Three of the five C4-S-1a built by Bethlehem at San Francisco, were converted to the 1f standard to meet the standards for operating by Pacific Far East Lines Inc. Bought from the Marad in February, May and September 1955, the vessels were renamed to GOLDEN BEAR, KOREAN BEAR and JAPAN BEAR.
Design: C4-S-1h Bethlehem Steel Co., Key Highway Yard, Baltimore, Maryland (Conversion)
(Passenger / Breakbulk) MA-1 and 3 to 5 (Conversion from 1a Standard to 1h) / President Hayes (IV), President Jackson (IV), President Adams (IV), Preisdent Coolidge (II)
In January and March 1955 American President Lines bought four C4-S-1a from the Marad and modified the vessels to C4-S-1h for Far East and Round the world service. The vessels were renamed to PRESIDENT HAYES IV (ex- Old Dominium Mariner, PRESIDENT JACKSON IV (ex- Volunteer Mariner), PRESIDENT ADAMS IV (ex Palmetto Mariner) and PRESIDENT COOLIDGE IV (ex- Cracker State Mariner). Conversion was done by Bethlehem Steel Co., Key Highway Yard at Baltimore, Maryland (drawing shows an C4-S-1h in APL colors after conversion). Modifications included additional cargo deep tanks and commercial refrigerated space, modification of cargo gear, alteration of passenger accomodations, and air conditioning of passenger and crew quarters.
Design: C4-S-1qa National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California
(Breakbulk) MA-164 to 166 ( 3 Built) / President Polk (III), President Monroe (III), President Harrison (III)
Design: C4-S-1t Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco, California
(Breakbulk) MA-89 and 90 ( 2 Built) / Philippine Bear (II), China Bear (II)

The "Challenger-Class" C4-S-57a
Design: C4-S-57a Newport News SB & DD Co., Newport News, Virginia
(Breakbulk) MA-109 to 113 (5 Built / Flight 1) Pioneer Moon, American Challenger, American Charger, American Champion, American Chieftain
Bethlehem Steel Co., SB Division, Quincy, Massachussetts
MA-118 to 123 (6 Built / Flight 2) American Courier, American Commander, American Corsair, American Contractor, American Contender, American Crusader
In March 1959 United States Lines made his first step in a huge 46-ship replacement program. Specifications and working plans were developed by Gibbs and Cox. Bids on the first Flight was won by Newport News (5 Ships). The second was awarded by Bethlehem-Quincy as lowest bidder. Known as the "Challenger-Class", ten vessels were operated by United States Lines on her UK-Continental-Europe Trade Routes, and one vessel the PIONEE MOON was operated by American Pioneer Lines (a USL subsidy) on the East Coast-Panama-Hawaii-Far East Route. In this 21 knot cargoliner every effort was made to incorporate the many, varied features necessary to service the complex North Atlantic Route. It has six cargo holds and eight deep tanks for liquid cargo. The machinery consists 16,500 SHP for 21 Knot Service Speed. The latest in cargo gear was installed, together with many other innovations.

The C4-S-58a Design
Design: C4-S-58a Ingalls SB Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi
(Breakbulk) MA-103 to 108 (6 Built) African Comet, African Meteor, African Mercury, African Neptune, African Sun, African Dawn
In August of this year Farrell Lines Incorporated took delivery of the first vessel in its "Third Fleet." The African Comet, built by The Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, a division of Litton Industries, is the first of six ships in FarrelLs current $621/2-million building program. They were designed by Gibbs & Cox, Inc., New York naval architects, who also served as owner's representative in connection with approval of plans, purchase specifications and inspection during construction. The African Comet is a big ship. At 572 ft LOA, she is the largest yet built under the present Maritime Administration subsidy program. Her total bale capacity is 688,026 cu ft, including 28,000 cu ft of refrigerated space. Her total carrying capacity homebound from Cape Town, Union of South Africa, is 10,700 dwt.

The C4-S-60a Design
Design: C4-S-60a Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi
(Container / Breakbulk) MA-139 to 144 (6 Built) / Mormacargo, Mormacvega, Mormaclynx, Mormacrigel, Mormacaltair, Mormacdraco

The "American Challenger II Class" C4-S-64a Design
Design: C4-S-64a Sun SB & DD Co., Chester, Pennsylvania
(Container / Breakbulk) MA-146 to 150 (5 Built) / American Rover, American Racer, American Ranger, American Reliance, American Resolute

The "Santa Lucia Class" C4-S-65a
Design: C4-S-65a Sun SB & DD Co., Chester, Pennsylvania
(Container / Breakbulk) MA-160 to 163 and 175 to 176 (6 Built) / Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Santa Elena, Santa Barbara, Santa Isabel
The first of six fast new freighters, which comprise the major addition to Grace Line's fleet for the next two years, has been delivered by Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Known as the Santa Lucia class, these vessels feature centralized propulsion control and a wide variety of special cargo facilities which include knock-down-type banana bins, hydraulically operated sideports, electrically actuated hinged watertight hatch covers, provisions for chilled and frozen cargo and on-and below-deck container stowage. Two heavy-lift booms with capacities of 30 and 80 tons have special masthead fittings which permit them to work either of two adjacent holds. Special mechanical features include a central control system lor the main propulsion plant that provides direct control of the main engines from a console on the bridge. A powerful bow thruster has been installed for maneuvering and locking in small ports without tug service. These vessels were developed for Grace Line's trade route from the East Coast of United States to the West Coast of South America and represent the culmination of Grace Line's present vessel replacement program lor this service.

The C4-S-66a Design
Design: C4-S-66a Ingalls SB Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi
(Breakbulk) MA-156 to 159, 171 to 174, 179 to 182, 208 and 209 (14 Built) / Louise Lykes, Elizabeth Lykes, Ruth Lykes, Letitia Lykes, Genevieve Lykes, Mason Lykes, Mallory Lykes, Stella Lykes, Frederick Lykes, Howell Lykes, Dolly Turman, Velma Lykes, Letitia Lykes (II), Genevieve Lykes (II) (Letitia Lykes (I) and Genevieve Lykes (I) were both destroyed in Hurricane "Betsy" on 09-10-65)

The "Seamaster - Class" C4-S-69a
Design: C4-S-69a Sun SB & DD Co., Chester, Pennsylvania
(Container/Breakbulk) MA-146 to 150 (5 Built) / President Van Buren, President Grant, President Taft, President McKinley, President Fillmore
When Ingalls delivered the First Ship of the so called "Seamasters-Class" the PRESIDENT VAN BUREN IV was the largest and fasted general-cargo carrying ship operating under any flag. The PRESIDENT VAN BUREN is a three-deck vessel fore and aft with a long forecastle and poop deck. She has five cargo holds forward of the superstructure and two aft. The machinery consists of 24,000 SHP giving a service speed of 23 Knots. The vessel has crew of 45 and accomodations for 12 passengers. The design was developed by the George G.Sharp Co.

The "Grace - Combos" C4-S1-49a
Design: C4-S1-49a Bethlehem Steel Co., SB Division, Sparrows Point, Maryland / MA-91 to 93 and 138 (4 Built)
(Passenger / Breakbulk) MA-91 to 93 and 138 (4 Built) / Santa Magdalaena, Santa Mariana, Santa Maria, Santa Mercedes
Designed by George C.Sharp, a well known american naval architect. The ship is a welded steel construction, full scantling type, single screw, machinery amidship, with raked stem and modified cruiser stern. A distinctive feature of the profile is a single kingpost-type stack located on the top of the midship house. The conception of the cargo holds, was very innovative. Based on intensive examination for the special needs on the prposed trade route, the type consist of five cargo holds, provision is made for carrying bananas or palletized cargo in Holds 1, 3 and 4, and carrying of containers in Holds 2 and 5, and in one cell group in Holds 3 and 4. Automobiles may be carried in Holds 3 and four. One distinctive feature of these type was the four "C" type gantry cranes. Each vessel had accomodations for up to 119 passengers, and has a normal crew of 115 men. The vessel is single screw with geared turbine propelling machinery located amidship. The machinery consists of 19,800 Shp max, giving a speed of 20.5 knots.