View source for Type C7 ship

The '''Type C7 ship''' ''(Lancer Class)'' is a [[United States Maritime Administration]] (MARAD) designation for a cargo ship and the first US purpose-built [[container ship]].  The vessels were constructed in US shipyards and entered service starting in 1968.<ref name=MARAD>{{cite web|title=Ships Built to MARAD Designs|url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/postwwii/marad.htm|work=US-Built Merchant Ships by Type|publisher=Tim Colton, ShipbuildingHistory.com|access-date=3 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029075235/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/postwwii/marad.htm|archive-date=29 October 2012}}</ref>  As US-built ships they were [[Merchant Marine Act of 1920|Jones Act]] qualified for shipments between US domestic ports. Under the Jones Act, domestic US maritime trade is restricted to US-built and flagged vessels of US owners and crewed by predominantly US-citizens.  The last active ''Lancer'' container-configured ship was scrapped in 2019. ''Lancers'' of the vehicle Roll-on/Roll-off ([[RO/RO]]) configuration remain held in the [[Ready Reserve Force]], National Defense Reserve Fleet<ref name=RRF>{{cite web |title=National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory Monthly report as of April 30, 2020 |url=https://www.maritime.dot.gov/sites/marad.dot.gov/files/pictures/i200430_1.pdf|work= NATIONAL DEFENSE RESERVE FLEET INVENTORY |publisher= US Dept. of Transportation Maritime Administration |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> and the US Navy Military Sealift Command.<ref name=SEALIFT>{{cite web|title=US Navy Military Sealift Command - Inventory|url=https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/Ships/Ship-Inventory/|website=MSC Ship Inventory - Containers and RO/RO|publisher=US Department of Defense|access-date=12 November 2020}}</ref> All are steam powered.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maritime Prepositioning Ships - T-AK, T-AKR and T-AOT |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4600&tid=200&ct=4|publisher=US Department of Defense|access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref>
==United States Lines C7-S-68 Series==
Eight Type C7-S-68 ships were built by [[Sun Shipbuilding]] for the [[United States Lines]] and entered service from 1968 to 1971. Upon the bankruptcy and dissolution of the company the ships were sold to other carriers.  The design proved very reliable as all of the ''Lancer Class'' vessels operated until at least 2002. In October 2014 the last active '68 series Lancer ''Horizon Discovery'', was delivered to the Bay Bridge Scrapyard in Brownsville, Texas. "..the ''Lancers'' revolutionized shipping as being the first true large (at that time) container ships. [They were] built for U.S. Lines and ran on the East Coast to Far East run for many years...''Discovery'' also served in Desert Storm. Her keel was laid exactly 47 years ago on 10/26/1967..It has been an honor taking this grand ole girl to her final resting place. She sure had a good run for many years. Instead of going down kicking and screaming she ran proud and well right to the very end and went down easy." - Captain Bill Boyce <ref name=LAST>{{Cite web |url=http://mebaunion.org/MEBA/meba-telex-times-october-30-2014/ |title=End of an Era: Last of the "Lancers" is "Finished with Engines|publisher=Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association|access-date=30 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117211639/http://mebaunion.org/MEBA/meba-telex-times-october-30-2014/ |archive-date=17 November 2014|url-status=unfit}}</ref>
[[File:American Astronaut.jpg|thumb|Lancer Class container ship SS American Astronaut of the United States Lines, at sea in 1969.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! MA Hull # !! MA Design !! Original Name !! Shipyard Hull # !! GT !! DWT !! Delivery !! IMO !! Later Names !! Fate
|-
| 184 || C7-S-68c || ''American Lancer'' || 640 || 18,764 || 22,225 ||1968 || IMO 6708379 ||''Humacao'' || Scrapped 2002<ref>{{cite web|title=HUMACAO IMO No: 6708379 CONTAINER 1968 / 19046 GT|url=http://www.cargo-vessels-international.at/HUMACAO_IMO6708379.pdf|publisher=Steffen Wiedner|access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>
|-
| 185 || C7-S-68c || ''American Legion'' || 641 || 18,764 || 22,138 ||1968 || IMO 6812211 ||''Sea-Land Challenger'', ''Horizon Challenger'' || Scrapped 2014<ref>{{cite web|title=ABS Class Suspensions, Withdrawals, & Reinstatements - 4 Mar 2014|url=http://www.eagle.org/safenet/suspension/class_suspended|publisher=American Bureau of Shipping|access-date=30 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 186 || C7-S-68d || ''American Liberty'' || 642 || 18,876 || 21,665 ||1968 || IMO 6820579 ||''Sea-Land Discovery'', ''Horizon Discovery'' || Scrapped 2014<ref name=LAST />
|-
| 187 || C7-S-68d || ''American Lynx'' || 643 || 18,876 || 21,665 ||1968 || IMO 6828624 || ''Mayaguez''<ref>{{cite web|last=Piché|first=Marc|title=AMERICAN LYNX - IMO 6828624|url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=872031|publisher=shipspotting.com|access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>  || Scrapped 2004
|-
| 188 || C7-S-68d || ''American Lark'' || 644 || 18,876 || 20,574 ||1969 || IMO 6905252 || ''Horizon Crusader'' || Scrapped 2010<ref>{{cite web|last1=Des Bois|first1=Robin|title=ShipBreaking.com #21|url=http://www.robindesbois.org/english/shipbreaking21.pdf|website=www.robIndiasbois.org|publisher=Association de Protection de l’Homme and de l’Environnement|access-date=13 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 240 || C7-S-68e || ''American Astronaut'' || 649 || 18,876 || 20,574 ||1969 || IMO 6916861 || ''Guayuma'' || Scrapped 2002<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Robert J.|title=AMERICAN ASTRONAUT - IMO 6916861|url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1048621|access-date=11 February 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 251 || C7-S-68e || ''American Apollo'' || 654 || 18,876 || 20,574 ||1970 || IMO 7026259 ||''Nuevo San Juan'' || Scrapped 2002<ref name=MARAD/>
|-
| 252 || C7-S-68e || ''American Aquarius'' || 655 || 18,876 || 20,480 ||1971 || IMO 7042485 || ''Carolina'' || Scrapped 2002<ref name=MARAD/>
|-
|}
==Pacific Far East Line C7-S-88 Series==
[[Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard|Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point Shipyard]] constructed two C7-S-88a container ships for San Francisco, California–based [[Pacific Far East Line]] (PFEL). These two ships were actually designed for and ordered by [[Matson, Inc.|Matson Navigation]], but when Matson decided to discontinue its transpacific operations the two ships were taken over by PFEL while still under construction. PFEL's ship names ended with ''Bear'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Pacific Far East Line|url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us~hfpa.html#pacfareast|work=House Flags of US Shipping Companies|publisher=Flags Of The World|access-date=30 September 2019}}</ref> and the two new ships were launched as SS ''Australia Bear'' and SS ''New Zealand Bear''. ''Australia Bear'' was completed in 1973, but before ''New Zealand Bear'' had been fully outfitted both ships were sold in 1974 to [[Sea-Land Service, Inc.]] and renamed ''Sea-Land Consumer'' and ''Sea-Land Producer'' as Sealand's SL18P class.<ref>Cudahay 206 pp. 133-134, 266-267</ref>  Sea-Land was bought by the [[CSX Corporation]] in 1986, and both ships were renamed in 2000. The domestic U.S. liner operations of Sea-Land were sold in 2003 and subsequently operated under the name [[Horizon Lines]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.horizonlines.com/service/how-we-ship/vessels |title=How We Ship - Vessels |publisher=Horizon Lines |access-date=30 September 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326105027/http://www.horizonlines.com/service/how-we-ship/vessels |archive-date=26 March 2015 |url-status=unfit}}</ref> Their service life came in a full circle when Matson, who had initially designed the ships decades earlier, acquired Horizon Lines in 2015. The vessels would serve their new owners a few more years as ''Matson Consumer'' and ''Matson Producer''.  They were scrapped in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! MA Hull # !! MA Design !! Original Name !! Shipyard Hull # !! GT !! DWT !! Delivery !! IMO !! Later Names !! Fate
|-
| 253 || C7-S-88a || ''Australia Bear'' || 4639 || 23,763 || 26,600 ||1973 || IMO 7224306 || ''Sea-Land Consumer'', ''CSX Consumer'', ''Horizon Consumer'', ''Matson Consumer''|| Scrapped 2018<ref>{{cite web|title=United States Flag Privately Owned Merchant Fleet - Summaryary of Changes|url=https://www.maritime.dot.gov/sites/marad.dot.gov/files/oictures/Consolidated_In_Out_List_20190815.pdf|access-date=30 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 254 || C7-S-88a || ''New Zealand Bear'' || 4640 || 23,763 || 26,600 ||1974 || IMO 7366312 || ''Sea-Land Producer'', ''CSX Producer'', ''Horizon Producer'', ''Matson Producer'' || Scrapped 2019<ref>{{cite web|title=Weekly Vessel Scrapping Report: 2019 Week 35|url=https://shipandbunker.com/news/features/risk-management/457400-weekly-vessel-scrapping-report-2019-week-35|access-date=30 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
|}
==States Steamship Lines C7-S-95 Series==
The [[States Steamship Lines]] (or States Lines) ordered four C7-S-95a ships from [[Bath Iron Works]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Toppan|first=Andrew|title=Bath Iron Works Production Record|url=http://www.hazegray.org/shipbuilding/biw3.htm|access-date=21 Dec 2014}}</ref> to carry both mixed and containerized cargo.  These vessels differed from the earlier C7s in that they have an aft cargo ramp. Their service speed is 23 knots and the States Lines operated the vessels between the US west coast and Asian ports.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bath Iron Launches Fourth Ro/Ro Ship For States Steamship|url=http://www.shipyarddirectory.com/shipbuilding-companies/launches-fourth-states-steamship-209837|work=Shipyard Directory|publisher=Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.|access-date=12 October 2012}}</ref> Their service time with the States Line however was brief as high fuel prices and competition drove the company into bankruptcy in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|title=States Steamship Co.|url=http://fotw.fivestarflags.com/us~hfst.html#statessteamship|work=House Flags of US Shipping Companies|publisher=Flags of the World|access-date=12 October 2012}}</ref> The vessels were eventually acquired by the US Government and are among the 27 RO/RO ships in the [[Military Sealift Command]].  All are steam powered and maintained in the Ready Reserve Force with 5 days as time to activate.<ref name=RRF />
[[File:SS Cape Island MSC.jpg|thumb|left|250x200px|alt=SS Cape Island sailing into harbor.|Military Sealift Command SS ''Cape Island'']]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! MA Hull # !! MA Design !! Original Name !! Shipyard Hull # !! GT !! DWT !! Delivery !! IMO !! Later Names !! Status<ref name=RRF/>
|-
| 279 || C7-S-95a || ''[[SS Cape Inscription (T-AKR-5076)|Maine]]'' || 366 || 15,000 || 14,500 || 27 April 1976 ||7390105|| ''Tyson Lykes'', ''Cape Inscription'' || RRF at Long Beach, CA 2020
|-
| 280 || C7-S-95a || ''[[SS Cape Intrepid|Arizona]]'' || 367 || 15,000 || 14,500 ||8 June 1976 || 7390117 || ''Lipscomb Lykes'', ''USNS Jupiter'', ''Cape Intrepid'' || RRF at Tacoma, WA 2020
|-
| 281 || C7-S-95a || ''[[SS Cape Isabel (T-AKR-5062)|Nevada]]'' || 368 || 15,000 || 14,500 ||30 Nov 1976 || 7390129 || ''Charles Lykes'', ''Cape Isabel'' || RRF at Long Beach, CA 2020
|-
| 295 || C7-S-95a || ''[[SS Cape Island|Illinois]]'' || 369 || 15,000 || 14,500 ||3 June 1977 || 7390131 || ''USNS Mercury'', ''Cape Island'' || RRF at Tacoma, WA 2020
|-
|}
==Waterman Line C7-S-133a Series==
Three C7 ships in the RO/RO configuration, designated as MARAD design C7-S-1331a, were built for the [[Waterman Steamship Corporation|Waterman Line]].  The ''John B. Waterman'' and ''Thomas Heyward'' were completed by Sun Shipbuilding.  The ''Charles Carroll'' was subcontracted to the [[Fore River Shipyard|General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Colton|first1=Tim|title=Ro-Ro Ships Built in U.S. Shipyards|url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/postwwii/roroships.htm|website=Shipbuilding History|publisher=ShipbuildingHistory.com.|access-date=30 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924101402/http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/postwwii/roroships.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref>  These would be the last ships constructed by the respective shipyards before their closure.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Colton|first1=Tim|title=Sun Shipbuilding, Chester PA|url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/inactive/sun.htm|website=Shipbuilding History - Large Shipyards, Inactive|publisher=ShipbuildingHistory.com|access-date=30 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Colton|first1=Tim|title=Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy MA|url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/inactive/bethquincy.htm|website=Shipbuilding History - Large Shipyards, Inactive|publisher=ShipbuildingHistory.com|access-date=30 December 2014}}</ref> In 1984-1985 all three were converted to pre-positioning supply ships for the US Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC) by the [[National Steel and Shipbuilding Company]], San Diego, CA.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Colton|first1=Tim|title=NASSCO, San Diego CA|url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/active/nassco.htm|website=Shipbuilding History - Large Shipyards, Active|publisher=ShipbuildingHistory.com|access-date=30 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101011036/http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/active/nassco.htm|archive-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>  The ships gained 157 feet amidships, a helicopter landing platform, and cranes to enable them to unload their own cargo. They retained their steam boilers but were retrofitted with two [[General Electric|GE]] turbines. As of July 2020 all three were in the inventory of the MSC.<ref name=SEALIFT/> All three ships were commissioned into the MSC as [[Strategic sealift ships#Sergeant Matej Kocak class|''Sgt. Matej Kocak''-class dry cargo ships]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! MA Hull # !! MA Design !! Original Name !! Shipyard Hull # !! GT<sup>[as built]</sup> !! DWT !! Delivery !! IMO !! Later Names !! Status
|-
| 346 || C7-S-1331a || ''[[USNS Sgt. Matej Kocak|John B. Waterman]]'' || 679 || 18,500 || 23,500 || 23 March 1983 ||7802706|| USNS ''Sgt. Matej Kocak'' (T-AK-3005) || Active 2020
|-
| 347 || C7-S-1331a || ''[[USNS PFC Eugene A. Obregon|Thomas Heyward]]'' || 680 || 18,500 || 23,500 ||11 February 1983 || 7823463 || USNS ''PFC Eugene A. Obregon'' (T-AK-3006)|| Active 2020
|-
| 511 || C7-S-1331a || ''[[USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (T-AK-3007)|Charles Carroll]]'' || 86 || 18,500 || 23,500 ||18 April 1983 || 7912123 || USNS ''Maj. Stephen W. Pless'' (T-AK-3007) || Active 2020
|-
|}
{{USNAVY}}
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
* {{cite book| last= Cudahay |first= Brian J. |title=Box Boats: How Container Ships Changed the World |publisher= Fordham University Press |year=2006 |isbn=9780823225699}}
==External links==
* [http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=873496 Image of ''American Lancer'' as shown while in San Francisco Bay in February 1971]
* [http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1106904 Image of ''Horizon Challenger'' (ex-''American Legion'') in 2010 showing raised wheel house]
{{Cape Isabel class cargo ship}}
{{MARCOMships}}
[[Category:Ship types]]
[[Category:Container ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in the United States|Types]]