{{Short description|American passenger and shipping line}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox company | name = United States Lines | logo =[[File:United States Lines Logo.png|220px]] | type = Government, later [[Private company|Private]] | foundation = August 27, 1921 | location = [[International Mercantile Marine Company Building|1 Broadway]], [[New York City]], United States (1943–1978)<br>45 Broadway, [[New York City]] (1921–1943)<br>27 Commerce Drive, [[Cranford, NJ]] | key_people = [[Kermit Roosevelt]](Co-Founder)<br> [[Paul Wadsworth Chapman]] (1929–1931)<br>[[Albert Lasker]] (1921–1923) (Co-Founder)<br>A.V. Moore ([[Moore-McCormack]])(Co-Founder)<br>[[W. Averell Harriman]] ([[United American Lines]])(Co-Founder)<br>Walter Kidde (Company) (1968–1978)<br>[[Malcom McLean|Malcolm McLean]] (1978–1986) |fate = [[Liquidation|Liquidated]] |defunct =1992 | area_served = New York, Cobh (Queenstown), Plymouth, Cherbourg, London, Bremen (1929 Hamburg), Southampton, Danzig, Liverpool, Manchester, Pauillac (Bordeaux), Le Verdon, Naples, Genoa | industry = Shipping, transportation | products = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | predecessor = [[United States Mail Steamship Company]] | parent = | subsid = | homepage = | footnotes = }}
'''United States Lines''' was an organization of the [[United States Shipping Board]]'s (USSB) [[Emergency Fleet Corporation]] (EFC), created to operate German liners seized by the United States in 1917. The ships were owned by the USSB and all finances of the line were controlled by the EFC. Among the notable ships of this period was {{SS|Leviathan||2}}, a contender for largest ship in the world for a time.
Eventually the line was sold and went private to continue operating as a transatlantic [[shipping company]] that operated cargo services from 1921 to 1989, and [[ocean liner]]s until 1969—most famously, {{SS|United States||2}}.
==1920s== [[File:SS Princess Alice interned at Cebu, Philippines.jpg|thumb|left|[[USS Princess Matoika (ID-2290)|''Princess Alice'']], later ''Princess Matoika'', circa 1914–16]] United States Lines was the trade name of the United States Shipping Board's Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC) organization created to operate the large German liners seized by the United States in 1917. By 1925 the corporation operated ex-German liners ''Leviathan'', {{SS|George Washington||2}}, {{SS|America|1905|2}}, {{SS|Republic|1917|2}} and the USSB built ships {{SS|President Roosevelt|1921|2}} and {{ill|SS President Harding|de|President Harding|lt=''President Harding''}} in service between New York and Europe. On 15 November 1921 the line began operating from piers 3 and 4 at the USSB's Hoboken Terminal which had been the [[Hamburg America Line]] facilities in [[Hoboken, New Jersey]] seized by the United States and, during the war, operated by the Army as the [[Hoboken Port of Embarkation]].<ref name=USSB6AR>{{cite report |date=December 1, 1922 |title=Sixth Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board |pages=142, 169 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=United States Shipping Board |url=https://www.fmc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Annual_Report_1922.pdf |accessdate=16 October 2021}}</ref><ref name=USSB9AR>{{cite report |date=December 1, 1925 |title=Ninth Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board |pages=145, 149, 160, 179 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=United States Shipping Board |url=https://www.fmc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Annual_Report_1925.pdf |accessdate=18 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Huston |first1=James A. |year=1966 |title=The Sinews of War: Army Logistics 1775–1953 |series=Army Historical Series |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Center Of Military History, United States Army |isbn= 9780160899140|lccn=66060015 |page=345 |url=https://history.army.mil/html/books/030/30-4/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401215348/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/030/30-4/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 1, 2015 |access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref><ref group=note>''President Roosevelt'' was built as ''Peninsula State'' and ''President Harding'' as ''Lone Star State''.</ref> The USSB engaged in advertising of the line and its ships through agencies using a "coupon" system to collect names and addresses of interested persons for direct mailings.<ref name=USSB9AR/> All the line's funds were managed by the USSB Treasurer.<ref name=USSB9AR/><ref name=USSB7AR>{{cite report |date=December 1, 1923 |title=Seventh Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board |page=162 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=United States Shipping Board |url=https://www.fmc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Annual_Report_1923.pdf |accessdate=18 October 2021}}</ref> The line started with three ships from the tonnage of the failed [[United States Mail Steamship Company]].<ref name="Cudahy2006">{{cite book |author=Brian J. Cudahy |title=Box boats: how container ships changed the world |url=https://archive.org/details/boxboats00bria |url-access=registration |access-date=3 October 2010 |year=2006 |publisher=Fordham Univ Press |isbn=978-0-8232-2568-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/boxboats00bria/page/146 146]}}</ref> One of the founders was [[Kermit Roosevelt]], son of US President [[Theodore Roosevelt]]. Two of the ships, ''America'' and ''George Washington'', were originally German vessels that had been seized during [[World War I]] and kept as reparations. Both ''America'' and ''George Washington'' made [[New York, New York|New York]]–[[Bremen (city)|Bremen]] runs, while [[SS President Grant (1920)|''Centennial State'']] ran from New York to [[London]].<ref>{{cite web|title=USS President Grant (Centennial State, President Adams)|url=http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/usn/president_grant.html|publisher=Pacific Wrecks|access-date=27 May 2013}}</ref>
The line became well known in the 1920s when two valiant historic rescues were made using their ships ''President Roosevelt'' in 1926 and ''America'' in 1929 by [[George Fried|Captain George Fried]].
More ships were acquired in 1922 and renamed after US presidents. The 52,000-ton {{SS|Leviathan||2}}, formerly ''Vaterland'' and one of the largest liners in the world, was acquired in 1923.
Throughout the 1920s, the line accumulated debt, and in March 1929, the line was sold to [[P.W. Chapman Company]], and reorganized as the "United States Lines Inc." of Delaware.<ref name="Malin1972">{{cite book |author=James Claude Malin |title=The United States after the World War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wqejZqba8ssC&pg=PA339 |access-date=3 October 2010 |year=1972 |publisher=Ayer Publishing |isbn=978-0-8369-6735-7 |page=339}}</ref> The stock market crash made matters worse, and in 1931, the remaining ships were sold to "United States Lines Company" of Nevada. Later in 1931, United States Lines was acquired by the Roosevelt International Mercantile Marine Company, which had been formed earlier in the year from the merger of the [[Roosevelt Steamship Company]] and [[International Mercantile Marine Co.]]
==1930s== In 1932, {{SS|Manhattan|1931|2}}, at a cost of approximately $21 million, became the first ship actually built for the line, followed the next year by {{SS|Washington||2}}. In 1940, a new {{SS|America|1940|2}} joined them.<ref name="McKenna2003">{{cite book |last=McKenna |first=Robert |title=The Dictionary of Nautical Literacy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R8bmQL-ijCMC&pg=PA224 |access-date=3 October 2010 |date=10 June 2003 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional |isbn=978-0-07-141950-5 |page=224}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Uncle Sam Enters Atlantic Race |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u-IDAAAAMBAJ&q=Uncle%20Sam%20Enters%20The%20Atlantic%20Race%20popular%20mechanics&pg=PA275 |access-date=27 May 2013|newspaper=[[Popular Mechanics]]|date=February 1931|publisher = Hearst Magazines}}</ref>
In 1932, United States Lines had offered to build a new passenger liner, called ''U.S. Express Liner'', which would also double as a mail ship, and would dramatically decrease the time of delivery for trans-Atlantic mail by catapulting an aircraft when it was within range. Congress refused to give a guarantee on trans-Atlantic postal rates and it was never built.<ref>{{cite news|title=America to Rule Sea with New Superliners |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QSgDAAAAMBAJ&q=america%20to%20rule%20the%20sea%20with%20new%20superliners%20popular%20science&pg=PA20 |access-date=27 May 2013|newspaper=[[Popular Science]]|date=April 1932}}</ref>
During the 1930s, United States Lines' ailing parent company, Roosevelt International Mercantile Marine, began winding down its other operations and merging several of its divisions into United States Lines. United States Lines absorbed the [[American Line]] in 1932, the [[Baltimore Mail Line]] in 1937, and the [[American Merchant Line]] in 1938.
==1940s== The decade started with United States Lines absorbing the [[Roosevelt Line]] in 1940, leaving United States Lines as Roosevelt International Mercantile Marine's sole operating business. Roosevelt International Mercantile Marine Company finally changed its name to "United States Lines Inc." in 1942, reflecting its new focus.
In [[World War II]], the ships were converted into [[troopship]]s. ''Manhattan'' became {{USS|Wakefield|AP-21|6}}, and ''Washington'' became {{USS|Mount Vernon|AP-22|6}}.<ref>{{cite book |author=World Ship Society |title=Marine news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lmVUAAAAMAAJ |access-date=3 October 2010 |year=1996}}</ref> The flagship ''America'' became the {{USS|West Point|AP-23|6}}<ref>{{cite book |last=McKenna |first=Robert |title=The Dictionary of Nautical Literacy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R8bmQL-ijCMC&pg=PA9 |access-date=3 October 2010 |date=10 June 2003 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional |isbn=978-0-07-141950-5 |page=9}}</ref> After the war, the company began to build smaller and cheaper ships, and operated a number of [[cargo ship]]s, all named beginning with "American" or "Pioneer".
===Duquesne Spy Ring=== {{main article|Duquesne Spy Ring}} In 1941, two [[Nazi]] spies, Franz Joseph Stigler and Erwin Wilhelm Siegler, worked for United States Lines as members of SS ''America''{{'}}s crew. While on ''America'', they obtained information about the movement of ships and military defense preparations at the [[Panama Canal]], observed and reported defense preparations in the Canal Zone, and met with other German agents to advise them in their espionage pursuits. They operated as couriers, transmitting information between the United States and German agents aboard. Stigler worked undercover as the chief butcher. Both remained on ''America'' until the US Navy converted her into USS ''West Point''.
Stigler and Siegler, along with the 31 other German agents of the Duquesne Spy Ring, were later uncovered by the [[FBI]] in the largest espionage conviction in US history. Stigler was sentenced to serve 16 years in prison on espionage charges with two concurrent years for registration violations; Siegler was sentenced to ten years imprisonment on espionage charges and a concurrent 2-year term for violation of the Registration Act.
==Expansion and bankruptcy== [[File:StateLibQld 1 169487 United States (ship).jpg|thumb|SS ''United States'' at sea in 1952]] [[File:American Nebraska IMO 8212661 and American Kentucky C New York 07-1987.jpg|thumb|Econships ''American Nebraska'' and ''American Kentucky'' laid up in New York, 1987]] With a government subsidy for her construction, {{SS|United States||2}} entered service in 1952. She holds the record as the largest ocean liner built in the United States and the fastest ocean liner ever built. She immediately set [[transatlantic crossing|transatlantic]] speed records, capturing the [[Blue Riband]] from {{RMS|Queen Mary||2}}. But competition from [[airliner]]s brought the glory days to an end; in 1964, ''America'' was sold to [[Chandris Line]], and ''United States'' was withdrawn from service in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|title=SS United States|url=http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/|publisher=SS United States Conservancy|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813172727/http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
After the termination of passenger services, United States Lines continued to operate as a [[container ship]] line, being bought by containerization pioneer [[Malcom McLean]] in 1978. By the 1980s, the line operated 43 vessels and was a leader in international shipping. It spent over {{USD|1}} billion in rapidly expanding its fleet and acquiring two competitors, [[Moore-McCormack|Moore-McCormack Lines]] and Delta Steamship Lines. In expectation of a worldwide surge in oil prices, United States Lines borrowed heavily to construct a new class of 12 fuel-efficient container ships known as the Jumbo Econships that, at over 57,000 gross tons, were the largest cargo ships yet built. Just as the new vessels were delivered, international freight rates fell and oil prices collapsed to near historic lows. The giant and slow Econships left United States Lines overcapacity, deeply in debt, and unable to compete with faster ships that were once again economically viable. Straining under the debt accumulated by the fleet expansion, the company filed for bankruptcy on 24 November 1986 in one of the largest bankruptcies in US history at the time.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Rasky| first = Susan F.| title = Bankruptcy Step Taken By McLean| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2016-11-16| date = 1986-11-25| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/25/business/bankruptcy-step-taken-by-mclean.html}}</ref> Most of the vessels were sold to pay creditors and in the reorganization plan filed on 5 July 1988, the company was formally liquidated by 1992.<ref>{{cite news |title= McLean Industries Files Its Reorganization Plan |first= Barnaby J. |last=Feder |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/06/business/mclean-industries-files-its-reorganization-plan.html |newspaper= The New York Times |date= 6 July 1988 |access-date=25 February 2012}}</ref>
==Legacy== Pursuant to the revised reorganization plan approved by the bankruptcy court in 1989, United States Lines Inc. was restructured as '''Janus Industries''' Inc. in November 1990, with its shares distributed to United States Lines creditors and the court-managed bankruptcy trust fund. The company's new management spent several years searching for new business opportunities, finally acquiring Pre-Tek Wireline Service Company, a provider of services to the oil, gas, and logging industries in 1996. In 1997, Janus acquired a number of hospitality assets from companies affiliated with the investors Louis S. Beck and [[Harry Yeaggy]], gaining ownership of 6 hotels, an 85% interest in a 7th hotel, a management company operating another 21 hotels, a fee-sharing joint venture with another management company on another property, and control of two mortgaged-backed loans. Beck and Yeaggy gained control of 43% of Janus Industries, and the former United States Lines decided to concentrate exclusively on the hotel business.<ref>{{cite web|title=Janus Hotels and Resorts March 2002 SEC filing|url=http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHtmlSection1?SectionID=1811243-6295-42626&SessionID=jemM6WLVFyf-_d2|website=EDGAR Online|publisher=EDGAR Online Inc.|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> Pre-Tek Wireline was spun off to its management in 1998 and Janus Industries changed its name again to Janus Hotels & Resorts Inc. in 1999. <ref>{{cite web|title=Form 10-SB, June 27, 1997, Janus Industries Inc.|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020359/0000891092-97-000238.txt|website=www.sec.gov/Archives|publisher=US Securities and Exchange Commission|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> United States Lines' successor company now controls hotels and resorts in 21 states.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Janus Hotels and Resorts|url=http://www.janushotels.com/|website=Janus Hotels and Resorts|publisher=Janus Hotel Management|access-date=7 February 2016}}</ref>
The name ''United States Lines'' was revived briefly in 2000 and 2001, as a brand name of [[American Classic Voyages]], operating cruises in Hawaii with a single ship, [[MS Marella Spirit|MS ''Patriot'']], formerly Holland America Line's ''Nieuw Amsterdam''. Construction had begun in 2000 on the future {{ship||Pride of America}}, and a 72,000-ton sister ship as part of [[Project America]], but in October 2001, the company filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations. The two unfinished vessels were acquired by [[Norwegian Cruise Line]] for their new NCL America division, while ''Patriot'' was repossessed by Holland America.
A new container shipping services company called US Lines LLC (Not related to the original company in any way) was established in Santa Ana, California in 2003 by [[CMA CGM]]. However, the company announced on December 6, 2016, that US Lines would be phased out and re-branded as '''ANL'''. <ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Lines becomes ANL - anl.com.au - U.S. Lines |url= http://www.anl.com.au/news/416/uslines-has-become-anl-in-oceania |publisher=CMA CGM |access-date= 6 December 2016}}</ref>
Several piers in [[New York City]] remain as artifacts left behind by the company. [[Pier 76]], United States Lines Terminal, was constructed as a cargo pier on [[West Side Highway]] at what was then the foot of 36th Street, and is now in use by Classic Car Club Manhattan, who took over the pier's lease from the NYPD in April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pier 76|url=http://classiccarclubmanhattan.com/|publisher=Classic Car Club Manhattan}}</ref> Neon letters spelling "United States Lines" are located on the west side of the pier, facing [[New Jersey]]. One letter, "I", on the sign was working until sometime in the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|title=United States Lines|url=http://nyneon.blogspot.com/2013/04/united-states-lines_19.html|work=New York Neon|publisher=Blogger|access-date=27 May 2013|date=19 April 2013}}</ref> The sign can be seen by the arriving [[NY Waterway]] ferry passengers or those taking the New York Circle Line water tour of Manhattan. The pier head building facing the street is also marked with the Line's name, at each end. [[New York Passenger Ship Terminal|Pier 86]], United States Lines' passenger pier, still exists, although the pier building has been demolished. The [[Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum]] is now based there, with {{USS|Intrepid|CV-11|6}} permanently berthed at the pier. In [[Newport News, Virginia]], where many of the United States Lines ships were built, one of the huge propellers from ''United States'' is on display at the entrance of the [[Mariners' Museum]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Marks|first=Brittany|title=Help save the SS United States passenger liner|url=http://newportnews.wtkr.com/news/community-spirit/53983-help-save-ss-united-states-passenger-liner|access-date=27 May 2013|publisher=[[WTKR]]|date=30 March 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
On February 4, 2016, [[Crystal Cruises]] announced a proposal to re-activate the former flagship of the United States Lines, SS ''United States'', for passenger service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mobile.philly.com/news/breaking/?wss=/philly/news/breaking&id=367636361&betaPreview=redesign|title=Cruise ship company in deal to buy SS United States|date=4 February 2016|access-date=4 February 2016|archive-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923145059/http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20160205_Report__Cruise_ship_company_in_deal_to_buy_SS_United_States.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/business/ss-united-states-historic-ocean-liner-of-trans-atlantic-heyday-may-sail-again.html|title=S.S. United States, Historic Ocean Liner of Trans-Atlantic Heyday, May Sail Again |date=4 February 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref> Crystal signed a purchase option for the ship and will cover docking costs in Philadelphia for nine months while it conducts a feasibility study. However, Crystal Cruise backed out in August 2016 due to challenges.
On December 10, 2018, the conservancy announced an agreement with the commercial real estate firm [[RXR Realty]], of New York City, to explore options for restoring and redeveloping the ocean liner.<ref name=rxr1>{{cite web|url=https://www.wearetheunitedstates.org/single-post/2018/12/10/Breaking-News-New-Agreement-with-RXR-Realty|title=Breaking News: New Agreement with RXR Realty|author=Susan Gibbs|website=wearetheunitedstates.org|publisher=SS United States Conservancy|date=December 10, 2018|access-date=December 13, 2018}}</ref> In 2015, RXR had expressed interest in developing an out-of-commission ocean liner as a hotel and event venue at [[Pier 57]] in New York.<ref name=rxr2>{{cite web|url=http://www2.philly.com/real-estate/commercial/ss-united-states-rxr-realty-columbus-boulevard-ikea-20181212.html|title=NYC developer with Manhattan pier project in deal to explore reviving SS United States|author=Jacob Adelman|website=philly.com|publisher=Philly.com/Philadelphia Media Network (Digital), LLC|date=December 12, 2018|access-date=December 13, 2018}}</ref> The conservancy requires that any redevelopment plan preserve the ship's profile and exterior design, and include approximately {{cvt|25000|sqft|sigfig=4}} for an onboard museum.<ref name=damen>{{cite web|url=https://www.wearetheunitedstates.org/single-post/2018/09/20/damen-ship-repair-and-conversion-welcomed-by-conservancy|title=Leading Rotterdam Ship Repair & Conversion Firm Welcomed by Conservancy|website=wearetheunitedstates.org|publisher=SS United States Conservancy|date=September 20, 2018|access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref> RXR's press release about the ''United States'' stated that multiple locations would be considered, depending on the viability of restoration plans.<ref name=rxr1/><ref name=rxr2/>
== Ships == {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |- ! Name ! Years active for USL ! Notes |- | [[USAHS Acadia|''Acadia'']] |1939 |Chartered from Eastern SS Lines for one voyage<ref name= TW>{{cite web |title=oceania.pbworks-United States Lines |url=http://oceania.pbworks.com/w/page/8473584/United%20States%20Lines#onstate |publisher=Tomasz Walczyk |access-date= 22 February 2012}}</ref> |- | {{SS|America|1905}} | 1920-1931 | former ''Amerika'' |- | {{SS|America|1940}} | 1940-41, 1946-1964 | USS West Point (1941-1946) Wrecked at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in 1994. Subsequently destroyed. |- | SS ''American Accord'' |1970-1986 |Type C6-S-1w container ship, IMO 5278901, converted from C4-S-1a cargo ship Pioneer Moor, originally Sunflower Mariner, 1954 |- | SS ''American Ace'' |1970-1986 |Type C6-S-1w container ship, IMO 5278963, converted from C4-S-1a cargo ship Pioneer Mart, originally Mountain Mariner, 1953 |- | MV ''American Alabama'' |1984-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212647 |- | SS ''American Alliance'' |1970-1987 |Type C6-S-1w container ship, IMO 5278913, converted from C4-S-1a cargo ship Pioneer Mill, originally Show Me Mariner, 1954 |- | SS ''American Altair'' |1982-1987 |Partial container ship, IMO 6421347, originally C4-S-60a Mormacaltair, 1964 |- | SS ''American Apollo'' |1970-1988 |Type C7-S-68e container ship, IMO 7025269 |- | SS ''American Aquarius'' |1971-1988 |Type C7-S-68e container ship, IMO 7042485 |- | SS ''American Archer'' |1970-1986 |Type C6-S-1w container ship, IMO 5278949, converted from C4-S-1a cargo ship Pioneer Mist, originally Peninsula Mariner, 1954 |- | SS ''American Argo'' |1982-1986 |Partial container ship, IMO 6407949, originally C4-S-60a Mormacargo, 1964 |- | SS ''American Argosy'' |1970-1986 |Type C6-S-1w container ship, IMO 5278896, converted from C4-S-1a cargo ship Pioneer Main, originally Cotton Mariner, 1953 |- | SS ''American Astronaut'' |1969-1988 |Type C7-S-68e container ship, IMO 6916861<ref name=SunShip>{{cite web|title=Sun Shipbuilding History|url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/inactive/sun.htm|publisher=shipbuildinghistory.com|access-date=2 January 2012|archive-date=10 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210150426/http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/inactive/sun.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | SS ''American Banker'' |1985-1987 |1972 Converted container ship, IMO 5277153,<ref>{{cite web |title= AMERICAN BANKER - IMO 5277153 |url= http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=324769 |publisher= Shipspotting.com |access-date= 25 February 2012}}</ref> originally C5-S-75a Philippine Mail, 1962 |- | SS ''American Builder'' |1985-1987 |1971 Converted container ship, IMO 5386605, originally C5-S-75a Washington Mail, 1961 |- | MV ''American California'' |1985-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212702 |- | SS ''American Challenger'' | 1962-1988 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, IMO 5014252, renamed ''Pioneer Moon''<ref name=mar>[https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/193 MARAD 289699]</ref> |- | SS ''American Charger'' | 1962-1988 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, IMO 5014276 |- | SS ''American Champion'' | 1963-1987 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, IMO 5014264 |- | SS ''American Chieftain'' | 1963-1988 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, IMO 5400528 |- | SS ''American Commander'' | 1963-1967 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship,<ref name= BSQ>{{cite web |title= Ships Built - Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy MA |url= http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/inactive/bethquincy.htm |publisher= ShipbuildingHistory.com |access-date= 29 February 2012 |archive-date= 16 February 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120216072407/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/inactive/bethquincy.htm |url-status= dead }}</ref> IMO 5014305 |- | SS ''American Contender'' | 1964-1967 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship,<ref name= BSQ/> IMO 5410119 |- | SS ''American Contractor'' | 1964-1967 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship<ref name= BSQ/> |- | SS ''American Corsair'' | 1963-1967 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship,<ref name= BSQ/> IMO 5014317 |- | SS ''American Clipper'' | 1945- | Type C2-S-AJ5 |- |SS ''American Counselor'' | | |- | SS ''American Courier'' | 1963-1986 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship<ref name= BSQ/> |- | SS ''American Crusader'' | 1964-1967 | Type C4-S-57a cargo ship,<ref name= BSQ/> INO 6404997 |- | SS ''American Defender'' | 1948-1956 |ex-Fordham Victory.<ref name= FLEET>{{cite web|title=United States Lines Fleet|url=http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/uslines.shtml|publisher=TheShipList.com|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref> |- | SS ''American Draco'' |1982-1987 |Partial container ship, IMO 6507921, originally C4-S-60a Mormacdraco, 1965 |- | SS ''American Entente'' |1983-1987 |Type C6-S-85a container ship, IMO 7326233, originally Austral Entente, 1972 |- | SS ''American Envoy'' |1983-1987 |Type C6-S-85a container ship, IMO 7116315, originally Austral Envoy, 1972. Now Matson Navigator, 2016. |- |SS ''American Farmer'' |1924-1940 | |- |[[USNS Flyer (T-AG-178)|SS ''American Flyer'']] |1946-1964 |Type C2-S-B1 cargo ship<ref>{{cite web |title= Flyer Class Miscellaneous Auxiliary: USNS Flyer (T-AG-178) |url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/09/49/49178.htm |website=NavSource Naval History|access-date= 2 March 2012}}</ref> |- | MV ''American Georgia'' |1985-1987 |Container ship, IMO 8200711 |- | MV ''American Hawaii'' |1984-1987 |Ro-Ro/Container ship, IMO 8320559 |- |SS ''American Hunter'' | | |- | MV ''American Illinois'' |1985-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212697 |- | SS ''American Importer'' |1931 |Ex troopship ''Somme'' (1920) originally Design 1024 built Hog Island, renamed ''American Importer'' converted United Dry Docks, Brooklyn. 1940 ''Ville de Gand'' torpedoed and lost<ref>{{cite web |title=Transports and Troopships |url=http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/wwi/transports.htm |publisher=T. Colton |access-date=23 June 2014 |archive-date=30 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130182509/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/wwi/transports.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=United States Shipping Board |year=1933 |title=Seventeenth Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board |issue=1933 |page=29 |publisher=Government Printing Office }}</ref> |- | MV ''American Kentucky'' |1985-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212661 |- |SS ''American Lancer'' |1969-1987 |[[Type C7 ship|Type C7-S-68c]] container ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6708379 |- |SS ''American Lark'' |1969-1987 | [[Type C7 ship|Type C7-S-68d]] container ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6905252 |- | {{MS|American Leader}} |1941-1942 |Type C1-B cargo ship |- |SS ''American Leader'' (2) |1946-1970 |Type C2-S-B1 cargo ship, ex-''Twilight'' <ref name= FLEET/> |- |SS ''American Leader'' (3) |1970-1986 |Type C6-S-1w container ship, IMO 5278937, converted from C4-S-1a cargo ship Pioneer Minx, originally Gopher Mariner, 1953 |- |SS ''American Legacy'' |1970-1986 |Type C6-S-1w container ship, IMO 5278925, converted from C4-S-1a cargo ship Pioneer Ming, originally Silver Mariner, 1954 |- |SS ''American Legend'' |1970-1986 |Type C6-S-1w container ship, IMO 5278975, converted from C4-S-1a cargo ship Pioneer Myth, originally Pelican Mariner, 1954 |- |SS ''American Legion'' |1968-1987 |[[Type C7 ship|Type C7-S-68c]] container ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6812211 Flagship after the retirement of [[SS United States|SS ''United States'']]. Later ''Horizon Challenger.'' |- |SS ''American Liberty'' |1968-1988 |[[Type C7 ship|Type C7-S-68d]] container ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6820579 Later ''Horizon Discovery.'' |- |SS ''American Lynx'' |1968-1988 |[[Type C7 ship|Type C7-S-68d]] container ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6828624 |- | MV ''American Maine'' |1984-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212635 |- |SS ''American Marketer'' |1983-1987 |Type C6-S-85a container ship, IMO 7218462, originally ''Austral Ensign'', 1973. Later ''Horizon Fairbanks'', laid up 2015. |- |SS ''American Merchant'' |1983-1987 |Type C6-S-85a container ship, IMO 7233278, originally ''Austral Endurance'', 1973 |- | MV ''American Michigan'' |1985-1987 |Ro-Ro/Container ship, IMO 8322789 |- | MV ''American Nebraska'' |1984-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212673 |- | MV ''American New Jersey'' |1984-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212623 |- | MV ''American New York'' |1984-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212611 |- | MV ''American North Carolina'' |1984-1987 |Ro-Ro/Container ship, IMO 8320547 |- | MV ''American Ohio'' |1985-1987 |Container ship, IMO 8200709 |- | MV ''American Oklahoma'' |1985-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212685 |- | SS ''American Pioneer'' |1983-1987 |Type C8-S-85d container ship, IMO 7617890, originally Austral Pioneer, 1979 |- | SS ''American Puritan'' |1983-1987 |Type C8-S-85d container ship, IMO 7617905, originally Austral Pioneer, 1980 |- |SS ''American Racer'' |1964-1983 |Type C4-S-68a cargo ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6414069 |- |SS ''American Ranger'' |1965-1983 |Type C4-S-68a cargo ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6423943 |- |SS ''American Reliance'' |1965-1983 |Type C4-S-68a cargo ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6507751 |- | SS ''American Reservist'' |1983-1986 |Partial container ship, IMO 6415960, originally C4-S-60a Mormaclynx, 1964 |- |SS ''American Resolute'' |1965-1969 |Type C4-S-68a cargo ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6515643 |- |SS ''American Resolute'' (2) |1982-1986 |Type C5-S-73b container ship, IMO 7635945, originally Resolute, 1980 |- |SS ''American Reporter'' | | |- | SS ''American Rigel'' |1982-1986 |Partial container ship, IMO 6417425, originally C4-S-60a Mormarigel, 1965 |- |SS ''American Rover'' |1965-1969 |Type C4-S-68a cargo ship,<ref name="SunShip"/> IMO 6418091 |-
|SS ''American Scout'' | | |- |SS ''American Shipper'' | | |- |SS ''American Trader'' |1979-1979 |1977 converted container ship, IMO 7117670, originally C8-S-81b LASH barge & container carrier Pacific Bear, 1971 |- |SS ''American Traveler'' | | |- | MV ''American Utah'' |1985-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212714 |- | SS ''American Vega'' |1982-1986 |Partial container ship, IMO 6411251, originally C4-S-60a Mormacvega, 1964 |- | MV ''American Virginia'' |1985-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212659 |- | MV ''American Washington'' |1985-1987 |Econship container ship, IMO 8212726 |- |{{SS|Argentina|1929|6}} |1929-1942 |Refitted and renamed from SS ''Pennsylvania'' in 1938 |- |{{SS|Brazil|1928|6}} |1928-1964 |Refitted and renamed from SS ''Virginia'' in 1938 |- |{{SS|California|1927|6}} |1927-1964 |Refitted and renamed to SS ''Uruguay'' in 1938 |- |SS ''Centennial State'' | | |- |SS ''Ernie Pyle'' | | |- |{{SS|George Washington}} |1921-1931 |Later USS ''Catlin'' (AP-19) |- |SS ''Granite State'' | | |- |SS ''Hudson'' | | |- |SS ''Iroquois'' | | |- |SS ''John Ericsson'' | | |- |{{SS|Leviathan}} |1923-1933 |former ''Vaterland'' |- |SS ''Lone Star State'' |1922 |See SS ''President Harding'' |- |{{SS|Manhattan|1931|2}} |1932-1941 |later USS Wakefield (AP-21) |- |SS ''Marine Falcon'' | | |- |SS ''Marine Flasher'' | | |- |SS ''Marine Jumper'' | | |- |{{SS|Marine Marlin}} | | |- |SS ''Marine Perch'' | | |- |SS ''Marine Shark'' | | |- |SS ''Marine Swallow'' | | |- |SS ''Marine Tiger'' | | |- |SS [[TS Empire State VI|''Mormactide'']] |1983-1986 |In service 2015 as USTS ''Empire State'' |- |[[USAHS Marigold|SS ''Old North State'']] |1921-1922 |See SS ''President Van Buren'' |- |{{SS|Orizaba}} |1939 |Chartered for one voyage from Ward Line<ref name=TW/> |- |SS ''Panhandle State'' | | |- |SS ''Peninsular State'' | | |- |[[SS Argentina (1929)|SS ''Pennsylvania'']] |1929-1964 |Refitted and renamed to SS ''Argentina'' in 1938 |- |SS ''Pioneer Commander'' |1967-1981 |Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, IMO 5014305, originally American Commander, 1963 |- |SS ''Pioneer Contender'' |1967-1988 |Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, IMO 5410119, originally American Contender, 1964 |- |SS ''Pioneer Contractor'' |1967-1981 |Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, originally American Contractor, 1964 |- |SS ''Pioneer Corsair'' |1967-1988 |Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, IMO 5014317, originally American Corsair, 1963 |- |SS ''Pioneer Crusader'' |1967- |Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, originally American Crusader, 1964 |- |SS ''Pioneer Glen'' |- |SS ''Pioneer Land'' |- |SS ''Pioneer Main'' |1956-1970 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, IMO 5278896, originally Cotton Mariner, 1953 |- |SS ''Pioneer Mart'' |1956-1971 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, IMO 5278901, originally Sunflower Mariner, 1954 |- |SS ''Pioneer Mill'' |1956-1970 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, IMO 5278913, originally Show Me Mariner, 1954 |- |SS ''Pioneer Ming'' |1956-1971 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, IMO 5278925, originally Silver Mariner, 1954 |- |SS ''Pioneer Mist'' |1956-1970 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, IMO 5278949, originally Peninsula Mariner, 1954 |- |SS ''Pioneer Minx'' |1956-1970 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, IMO 5278937, originally Gopher Mariner, 1953 |- |SS ''Pioneer Moon'' |1962-1988 |Type C4-S-57a cargo ship, IMO 5014252. She was the renamed ''American Challenger'', the lead ship of the type<ref name=mar /> |- |SS ''Pioneer Moor'' |1956-1970 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, IMO 5278963, originally Mountain Mariner, 1953 |- |SS ''Pioneer Muse'' |1956-1961 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, originally Nutmeg Mariner, 1953 |- |SS ''Pioneer Myth'' |1956-1970 |Type C4-S-1a cargo ship, IMO 5278975, originally Pelican Mariner, 1954 |- |SS ''Pioneer Tide'' | | |- |{{SS|Potomac}} | | |- | SS ''President Adams'' | | |- | {{SS|President Arthur}} | | |- |SS ''President Fillmore'' | | |- |SS ''President Garfield'' | | |- |{{ill|SS President Harding|de|President Harding|lt=SS ''President Harding''}} |1922-1940 |Previously ''Lone Star State'' and ''President Taft.'' Transatlantic liner, sold 1940.<ref>{{cite web |title=Passenger Liners New York Shipbuilding |url= http://www.yorkship.us/HTML/liners.htm |publisher=A Place Called Yorkship |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120224045459/http://www.yorkship.us/HTML/liners.htm|archive-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> |- |SS ''President Monroe'' | | |- |SS ''President Polk'' | | |- |{{SS|President Roosevelt}} | | |- |SS ''President Taft'' |1922 |See SS ''President Harding'' |- |[[USAHS Marigold|SS ''President Van Buren'']] |1921-1924 |Named ''Old North State'' 1921-1922 |- |{{SS|Princess Matoika}} |1921-1922 |Originally SS ''Kiautschou'' (German Passenger Liner, 1900) |- |{{SS|Republic}} | | |- |[[USS Antaeus (AG-67)|SS ''St John'']] |1939 |Chartered from Eastern SS Lines for one voyage<ref name= TW/> |- |SS ''Shawnee'' |1939 |Chartered from Clyde Line for one voyage.<ref name= TW/> |- |[[USS Susquehanna (ID-3016)|SS ''Susquehanna'']] | | |- |{{SS|United States}} |1952-1969 |Laid up in [[Mobile, Alabama]] in 2025 to be an [[artificial reef]] nearby |- |[[SS California (1927)|SS ''Uruguay'']] |1927-1964 |Refitted and renamed from SS ''California'' in 1938 |- |[[SS Brazil (1928)|SS ''Virginia'']] |1928-1964 |Refitted and renamed to SS ''Brazil'' in 1938 |- |{{SS|Washington}} | | |}
== Footnotes == {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/Passengers/USL/index.html Passenger Lists from the United States Lines] GG Archives * [https://www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/SteamshipLines/BaltimoreMailLine.html Baltimore Mail Line History and Ephemera] GG Archives * [https://www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/SteamshipLines/UnitedStatesLines.html United States Lines (USL) History and Ephemera] GG Archives {{Container shipping companies}}{{Authority control}}
[[Category:United States Lines| ]] [[Category:Transport companies established in 1921]] [[Category:Transport companies disestablished in 1992]] [[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1986]] [[Category:Container shipping companies of the United States]] [[Category:Defunct shipping companies of the United States]] [[Category:Shipping companies of the United States]] [[Category:Transatlantic shipping companies]] [[Category:Container shipping companies]]