Foreign Passenger and Cargo Ships Taken Over by U.S Maritime Commission during World War II

On June 6, 1941 there were 84 voluntarily inactive large ships of foreign registry in American ports. The Ship Requisition Act signed on that day allowed the Coast Guard to seize these vessels for the war effort. In addition, the British Ministry of War Transport transferred some vessels to the jurisdiction of the War Shipping Administration. Brazil transferred several vessels marked with a + which it seized in its own ports.

27 of the Italian ships and 1 German ship, seized for violation of the Espionage Act of 1917, were sabotaged by their crews. The cost of repair for 16 of these damaged ships ranged from $60,000 to $550,000.

Representatives of the friendly governments under which some these vessels were previously registered such as the Dutch Ministry of Shipping cooperated with the War Department. In many cases, crew members of other nationalities were kept on the vessels since they were familiar with the equipment, and there was a shortage of American seamen.

Appeal to Danish Seamen to Remain Aboard their Requisitioned Vessels

Laid-up vessels of foreign registry in U.S. ports which may be subject to the Ship Requisition Act:

  Number Gross tons
Denmark 40 142,641
Germany 3 14,096
Italy 28 168,744
Estonia 2 3,837
France 10 139,117
Finland 17 55,213
Lithuania 1 1,255
Rumania 1 3,495
Holland 1 3,492
Sweden 1 20,067
Greece 1 3,034
Total 105 554,991

Additional ships were seized at other times and others turned over to the Allies after the signing of the Armistice with Italy in 1943. Total 113 ships listed below, many of which were renamed after famous race horses, winners of the Kentucky Derby.

* indicates the ship was sunk or damaged during World War II

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
African Reefer Denmark Marine Operating Co. U.S. Roamer/U.S. Navy AF-19
Alssund Denmark Waterman Steamship Panama Bold Venture*
Anna Maersk Denmark   Panama Lookout*
Australian Reefer Denmark U. S. Army   USS Pontiac*
Broholm Denmark Marine Operating Co. Panama Hindoo*
Brosund Denmark United States Lines Panama Crusader*
Carolyn Maersk[Caroline] Denmark Standard Oil Co. Of N.J. Panama Ben Brush*
Colombia Denmark United States Lines/Isthmian Lines Panama Sir Huon*
E. M. Dalgas Denmark Waterman Steamship Panama War Admiral
Emma Maersk Denmark Pennsylvania Shipping Company Panama Salvator
Frode Denmark South Atlantic Steamship Line Panama Omaha*
Georgia Denmark Grace Lines Panama Aristides
Gertrud Denmark Grace Lines    
Gertrude Maersk Denmark American President Lines   Cavalcade
Greta Maersk Denmark American President Lines Panama Cricamola/Pennant
Herta Maersk Denmark Marine Transport Co. Panama Montrose*
Hulda Maersk Denmark American President Lines Panama Chant*
Jonna Denmark U. S. Army Panama Pillory*
Jutta Denmark Marine Transport Co. Panama Kingman
Laura Maersk Denmark American President Lines/Grace Lines Panama Day Star
Lexa Maersk Denmark Grace Lines Panama Buchanan*
Lundby Denmark United States Lines Panama Pink Star*
Marchen Maersk Denmark American President Lines Panama Caldera/Perida
Maria Denmark U. S. Navy Panama Uranus/USN AF-14
Marna Denmark Marine Transport Co. Panama Azra*
Niel Maersk Denmark Isthmian SS Co. Panama Johnstown*
Nora Denmark Marine Transport Co. Panama Halma*
Norden Denmark United States Lines Panama Firethorn*
Nordhval Denmark Union Steamship Of New Zealand Panama Donerail*
Nordpol Denmark Union Steamship Of New Zealand Panama Manuel
Norvest Denmark Union Steamship Of New Zealand Panama Alan-A-Dale*
Olympia Denmark   Panama Snark*
P. N. Damm Denmark Grace Lines Honduras Spokane/Carits II
Paula Denmark Marine Transport Co. Panama Montana*
Ragnhild Denmark Grace Lines Panama Leonatus
Rita Maersk Denmark Marine Transport Co. Panama Lawrin/Pegasus
Sessa Denmark Marine Transport Co. Panama Longtaker*
Sicilien Denmark U. S. Army   *
Tanja Denmark Marine Transport Co. Panama Alcedo*
Tunis Denmark U. S. Navy Panama Aquila

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Maret Estonia Lykes Brothers Steamship Co. Panama Sysonby


Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Aagot Finland   Panama Potomac
Advance Finland   Panama, Gr. Britain Trojan, Trojan III
Anja Finland American-West African Line Finland Scapa Flow*
Atlas II Finland   Panama Pompoon*
Aurora Finland   Finland Rosemount
Delaware Finland   Panama Puchero*
Fidra Finland Alcoa Steamship Co. Panama Tambour*
Kurikka Finland Moore-McCormack Panama Chenango*
Kuurtanes Finland    Panama, Gr. Britain Arc Light
Marisa Thorden Finland Alcoa Steamship Co. Panama Bushranger*
Mathilda Thorden Finland    Panama, Gr. Britain Amazon, Thunderer
Pandia Finland Alcoa Steamship Co. Panama Desert Light*
Saimaa  Finland   Germany, Panama Yemasee
Wipunen Finland Wessel, Duval & Co. Panama Granville*

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Athos II France War Shipping Administration France  
Colombie France French Line Inc./U.S. Army Hospital Ship France Colombie/USAT Aleda E. Lutz
Marechal Joffre France (Vichy) U. S. Navy U.S. USS Rocheambeau

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Arauca Germany South Atlantic Steamship Line;
U.S. Navy
U.S. Saturn AF 40
Blenheim Germany Waterman Steamship U.S. Blenheim
Tacoma$ Germany/Uruguay Matson Navigation Company U.S.  
Windhuk+ Germany/Brazil U. S. Navy U.S. USS Lejeune

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Bloemfontein Holland War Shipping Administration    
Boschfontein Holland War Shipping Administration    
Brastagi Holland War Shipping Administration    
Japara Holland War Shipping Administration   Japara*
Klipfontein Holland War Shipping Administration    
Kota Agoeng Holland War Shipping Administration    
Kota Baroe Holland War Shipping Administration    
Kota Inten Holland War Shipping Administration    
Noordam Holland War Shipping Administration    
Poelau Laut Holland War Shipping Administration    
Sloterdijk Holland British Ministry of War Tranport/WSA    
Sommelsdijk Holland War Shipping Administration    
Tabinta Holland War Shipping Administration    
Tjisadane Holland War Shipping Administration    
Weltevreden Holland War Shipping Administration    

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Ada O Italy Lykes BrothersSteamship Co. Panama Hermis*
Alabama Italy   Panama/U.S. Osmond/Quiros
Alberta Italy   Panama Ballot*
Anteo Italy   Panama Bostonian*
Antonietta Italy   Panama Olambala*
Arsa Italy Waterman Steamship Panama Friar Rock*
Aussa Italy Waterman Steamship Panama Africander*
Bacicin Padre Italy   Panama/U.S./U.S./U.S. Swivel/St. Mary/Clyde/Swivel
Belvedere Italy   Panama Audacious*
Clara Italy Waterman Steamship Panama Stone Street*
Colorado Italy   Panama/U.S. Typhoon/Villalobos
Confidenza Italy   Panama Troubadour
Conte Biancamano Italy U. S. Navy U.S. USS Hermitage
Dentice Italy   U.S. Faireno/Arayat
Dino Italy United States Lines Panama Meridian*
Euro Italy United States Lines Panama Bateau*
Giuan Italy Waterman Steamship Panama Gallant Fox
Guidonia Italy South Atlantic Steamship Line Panama Plaudit*
Ida Z. O. Italy United States Lines Panama Macbeth*
Ircania Italy South Atlantic Steamship Line Panama Raceland*
Jole Fassio Italy U.S. Navy Panama/U. S. Navy Alcibiades/Andrew Doria IX 32
Laconia Italy Waterman Steamship Panama Elwood
Leme Italy British Ministry Of War Tranport   Lowlander
Mar Glauco Italy Grace Lines Panama Makatam
Monfiore Italy   Panama White Clover
Mongioia Italy United States Lines Panama Exterminator*
Pietro Campanella Italy United States Lines/International Freighting Co. Panama Equipoise*
Rapallo Italy   Columbia/Panama Victorian/Polonaise/Manileno
San Guiseppe Italy South Atlantic Steamship Line Panama Aneroid*
San Leonardo Italy United States Lines Panama Reigh Count*
Santarosa Italy Waterman Steamship Panama Ramapo*
Saturnia Italy War Shipping Administration/U. S. Navy U.S. Navy Saturnia/USS Frances Y. Slanger
Trottiera Italy   Panama/U.S. Navy Orissa/USS Malvern
Villarperosa Italy A. L. Burbank & Co. Panama Colin*
Vittorin Italy      
Vulcania Italy War Shipping Administration U.S. Vulcania
Conte Grande+ Italy/Brazil U. S. Navy U.S. USS Monticello
Liana+ Italy/Brazil War Shipping Administration U.S. Baialoide*

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Roseville Norway Sudden & Christenson Norway  

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Mangalia Rumania U. S. Navy U.S. USS Pleiades/Scepter

Ship Former flag Operator during war New flag New name
Kungsholm Sweden United States Lines U.S. John Ericsson
Torrens Sweden War Shipping Administration Holland  

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: A Message to the Congress Asking Power to Requisition Idle Foreign Ships in American Waters. April 10, 1941

Acquisition of Domestic or Foreign Merchant Vessels, Public Law 101, [H.R. 4466] June 6, 1941

Sources:
Troopships of World War II, Roland W. Charles, Washington, DC: The Army Transportation Association, 1947
The World's Merchant Fleets 1939: The Particulars and Wartime Fates of 6,000 Ships, Roger Jordan, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1999
United States Maritime Commission, Press Releases 926, 940, 945, 951, 952, 959, 963, 969, 977, 983, 984, 988, 998, 1011, 1030, dated June 6, 1941 to September 29, 1941
Rohwer, Jurgen. Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two. (Revised and expanded) Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1999
$Personal correspondence, J. Pierre 4/16/02
Sunderland shipbuilders http://www.searlecanada.org/sunderland/sunderland028.html

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05/14/03 Revised 03/21/11

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