SS Mayagüez
Encyclopedia
SS Mayaguez was a U.S.-flagged
container ship
that attained notoriety for its 12 May 1975 seizure by Khmer Rouge
forces of Cambodia, which resulted in a confrontation with the United States at the close of the Vietnam War
.
(U.S. Maritime Commission) built by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company
of Wilmington, NC. Its sister ship was the SS Ponce.
After World War II, she was renamed the Santa Eliana. In 1960, she was lengthened and widened by the Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and converted into the first U.S.-flagged, all-container ship devoted to foreign trade, with a capacity of 382 containers below-deck plus 94 on-deck. She was renamed SS Sea in 1964, and SS Mayaguez (named after the City
of Mayagüez in the west coast of Puerto Rico
) in 1965.
Beginning in 1965, the Mayaguez sailed a regular route for Sea-Land Service, Inc in support of American forces in Southeast Asia: Hong Kong – Sattahip, Thailand – Singapore. On 7 May 1975, about a week after the fall of Saigon, Mayaguez left Hong Kong on what was said to be a routine voyage.
Flag State
The flag state of a commercial vessel is the state under whose laws the vessel is registered or licensed.The flag state has the authority and responsibility to enforce regulations over vessels registered under its flag, including those relating to inspection, certification, and issuance of safety...
container ship
Container ship
Container ships are cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport.-History:...
that attained notoriety for its 12 May 1975 seizure by Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
forces of Cambodia, which resulted in a confrontation with the United States at the close of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Registration history
The Mayaguez was first launched in April 1944 as SS White Falcon, a C2-S-AJ1Type C2 ship
Type C2 ships were designed by the United States Maritime Commission in 1937-38. They were all-purpose cargo ships with five holds, and U.S. shipyards built 173 of them from 1939-1945. Compared to ships built before 1939, the C2s were remarkable for their speed and fuel economy. Their design speed...
(U.S. Maritime Commission) built by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company
North Carolina Shipbuilding Company
North Carolina Shipbuilding Company was a shipyard in Wilmington, North Carolina, created as part of the U.S. Government's Emergency Shipbuilding Program in the early days of World War II. From 1941 through 1946, the company built 243 ships in all, beginning with the Liberty ship SS Zebulon B....
of Wilmington, NC. Its sister ship was the SS Ponce.
After World War II, she was renamed the Santa Eliana. In 1960, she was lengthened and widened by the Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and converted into the first U.S.-flagged, all-container ship devoted to foreign trade, with a capacity of 382 containers below-deck plus 94 on-deck. She was renamed SS Sea in 1964, and SS Mayaguez (named after the City
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Mayagüez in the west coast of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
) in 1965.
Beginning in 1965, the Mayaguez sailed a regular route for Sea-Land Service, Inc in support of American forces in Southeast Asia: Hong Kong – Sattahip, Thailand – Singapore. On 7 May 1975, about a week after the fall of Saigon, Mayaguez left Hong Kong on what was said to be a routine voyage.