SS William Byrd

History
United States
NameWilliam Byrd
NamesakeWilliam Byrd II
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorUnited Fruit Co.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 1203
BuilderSt. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida[1]
Cost$2,068,703[2]
Yard number11
Way number5
Laid down24 May 1943
Launched20 August 1943
Sponsored byMiss Marjorie Byrd McCarty
Completed5 September 1943
Identification
Fate
General characteristics [3]
Class and type
Tonnage
Displacement
Length
  • 441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa
  • 416 feet (127 m) pp
  • 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam57 feet (17 m)
Draft27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m)
Installed power
  • 2 × Oil fired 450 °F (232 °C) boilers, operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa)
  • 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Propulsion
Speed11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 562,608 cubic feet (15,931 m3) (grain)
  • 499,573 cubic feet (14,146 m3) (bale)
Complement
Armament

SS William Byrd was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after William Byrd, an American planter and author from Charles City County, in colonial Virginia. He is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia.

Construction

William Byrd was laid down on 24 May 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1203, by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida; she was sponsored by Miss Marjorie Byrd McCarty, a descendant of the namesake, she was launched on 20 August 1943.[1][2]

History

She was allocated to the United Fruit Co., on 5 September 1943. On 11 March 1948, she was placed in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 11 August 1953, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1953", she returned loaded with grain on 28 August 1953. She was again withdrawn from the fleet on 2 June 1956, to have the grain unloaded, she returned reloaded on 30 June 1956. On 16 March 1960, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be unloaded, she returned empty on 28 March 1960. She was sold for scrapping, 22 January 1973, to Luria Brothers and Company, for $59,577.75. She was withdrawn from the fleet, 18 May 1973.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b St. John's River SBC 2010.
  2. ^ a b c MARCOM.
  3. ^ Davies 2004, p. 23.
  4. ^ MARAD.

Bibliography

  • "St. John's River Shipbuilding, Jacksonville FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  • Maritime Administration. "William Byrd". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  • "SS William Byrd". Retrieved 30 December 2019.