Outboard Profiles of Maritime Administration  Vessels

The C7-Designs

All Drawings by Karsten-Kunibert Krueger-Kopiske 2007

United States Lines contracted in December 1964 five newly designed Container vessels Marad design C7-S-68c for the growing container market. In May 1968 a single vessel of the slightly modernized D design was ordered, followed by two E design vessels in September 1969. Delivered between May 1968 and March 1971. For over a decade operated by USL, all vessels were sold. Between June and September 1988 the following vessels were sold to the Miami based Puerto Rico Maritime Shipping Authority (LANCER ren'd HUMACAU, LYNX ren'd MAYAGUEZ, ASTRONAUT ren'd GUAYAMA, APOLLO ren'd NUEVO SAN JUAN and AQUARIUS ren'd CAROLINA). In April 1988 three vessels were sold to Sea-Land Service Inc.(LEGION ren'd SEA-LAND LEGION, LIBERTY ren'd SEA-LAND LIBERTY and LARK ren'd SEA-LAND LARK). Drawing shows the AMERICAN LANCER.

The growing container trade forced United States Lines in the early 70's to modernize and convert former Breakbulk Cargo Vessels into Containerships. USL choosed her eight C4-S-1a cargo vessels for this. Contracts were signed with the above described Shipyards and the vessels were redelivered for service between September 1970 and February 1971. The vessels were lenghtened by nearly 100 ft. The result was that Gross Tons raised by 5,000 tons, but remarkable was that the service speed was only reduced from 20.25 to 19.75 knots. The total container capacity was 1,027 TEU's. All vessels remained in service by USL up to 1983 when they were laid-up at New York City. In December 1985 all eight vessels were sold for scrapping (ARCHER, ACE, ARGOSY, ALLIANCE, ACCORDand LEGEND were scrapped at Kaoshiung, RoC and LEGACY and LEADER were scrapped at Castellon de la Plana, Spain). Drawing shows the AMERICAN ACE after conversion.

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