Isthmian Line -Liberty Ships -Victory Ships -WWII

Forum

Isthmian Name:	Steel Artisan	Period:	Modern

Gross Tonnage:	7,948	Net:	4,667
Dimensions:	492' 0" x 69' 7" x 29' 5"	MC Type:	C3-S-A2

Builder:	Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula, MS	Hull # USMC Hull # Date of Build: Delivered:	434 1808 1945 8/31/45
Engines:	2 Steam Turbines DR Geared to Single Screwed Shaft	Engine Builder:	Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. Pittsburgh, PA
Navigation:	DF, ESD, GC, RDR, RT	Decks, etc.:	2 Decks & Open Shelter Deck

Began Isthmian Service:

1946

Ended Isthmian Service:

1973

----------------------------------- Vessel History -----------------------------------

Date	Vessel #	Vessel Name	Vessel Owner	Call Ltrs	Home Port	Flag
1945	247833	*Sea Angler II*	US War Shipping Administration	ANYY	New Orleans	USWB
1946	247833	*Sea Phoenix*	US War Shipping Administration	ANYY	New Orleans	USWB
1946	247833	*Sea Phoenix*	US Maritime Commission	ANYY	New Orleans	US
1946	247833	*Steel Artisan*	Isthmian Lines, Inc. New York	KRLR	New York	US

Events:
1940: September: Four ships of type C3-S-A1 cargo were ordered by Isthmian SS Co. from Western Pipe & Steel, San Francisco, and scheduled for delivery in February, May (two ships) and June of 1942. All four vessels were taken over for completion as ships of the US Navy, although two were later transferred to the Royal Navy, and all were redesignated. The original STEEL ARTISAN's keel was laid April 7, 1941, launched September 27, 1941 and taken over by the US Navy for completion as an Escort Carrier, BARNES (I) (CVE 7). Sea trials were performed August 12 and September 14, 1942. On September 30, 1942 the vessel was transferred on Lend/Lease to Britain, commissioned in the Royal Navy, as ATTACKER (D 02). In February 1946 the vessel was transferred to the USMC.
10/17/44: Laid down as SEA ANGLER (II); completed as SEA PHOENIX.
4/6/45: Launched.
8/31/45: Delivered.
1946: U.S. Maritime Commission.
11/26/46: Isthmian takes title to the first of the 24 C-3's awarded to it by the Executive Committee of the Large Vessel Sales Committee. The STEEL ARTISAN is already loading for Persian Gulf and India ports.
5/48: Shaft renew at New York; repair cost $16,000.
1/11/49: Moored at Port Said, on voyage Baltimore to Ras Tanura, when hit by SS CHETICAMP while mooring. Both ships had plate damage, CHETICAMP lost anchor. Repair cost to STEEL ARTISAN $16,442.
2/49: Propeller blade damage when hit by barge; repair cost $5,468.
7/49: Aground. Propeller repair and rudder stock renew; repair cost $15,073.
8/49: Stevedore damage. Renew 2,000 cargo battens and batten clips, ladders and pipe guards; repair cost $2,572.
4/12/50: Left Korramshahr for Ras Almishaar and ran aground. Plate, frame and intercostal damage; repair cost $22,738.
5/15/50: Hit buoy at Beirut while mooring. Renew 1 shell plate, frames and deck plating at Baltimore.
12/29/51: Hit dock; plate damage. Renew 1 shell plate, frames and deck plating at Baltimore.
2/4/52: Hit dock; plate damage.
1/6/53: At Olongapo with heavy weather damage on voyage Baltimore to Manila.
6/7/53: At Dammam on voyage Basrah to U.S. East Coast, fire in #3 cargo hold. Fire extinguished in 2 hours with damage to plates and piping.
7/8/53: Heavy weather in January 1953. Renew 4 cargo booms, accomodation ladder, 4 winch controllers, tarpaulins, pipe guards, 150' of pipe rail ladders, ventilators and cargo lights. Fair 6 side shell plates, propeller blades, together with extensive sundry damages. Repairs and drydocking at Baltimore.
12/15/53: Collision with SS BROOKLYN HEIGHTS.
1/11/54: From fire 6/7/53, 3 shelter deck plates renew, 6 deck beams, bulkhead girder, air ducts and piping partially renew, together with extensive removals and sundry damages; repairs at New York.
11/24/54: Damage, date, cause and place unkown, 1 side plate renew, 3 side plates fair, frames and brackets straighten and partially renew, together with sundry damages; repairs at New York.
1/2/55: Collision.
12/4/55: Failure of turbine bearings.
3/8/56: From collision 1/2/55, 7 plates renew, 1 partially renew and 18 fair, frames and brackets straighten and partially renew, together with sundry damages and removals; drydocking and repairs at Baltimore.
11/19/56: From alleged failure of turbine bearings 12/4/55, high pressure turbine rotor and casing gland seals renew, bearings remetal, flexible coupling renew, together with sundry damages and removals; repairs at Baltimore.
12/8/60: At New York, STEEL ARTISAN, Baltimore for Penang, had slight collision with steamer ANTINOUS, Aqaba for New Orleans, at 10 PM. ANTINOUS was under way and her stern came into contact with the bow of the STEEL ARTISAN. ANTINOUS inspected, declared seaworthy and proceeded to sea. Damage to STEEL ARTISAN, if any, not reported. STEEL ARTISAN arrived New York 12/8, ANTINOUS having arrived 12/7.
2/2/61: From collision with ANTINOUS 12/8/60, STEEL ARTISAN surveyed without prejudice: Two shell plates partially renew, frames straighten and partially renew, together with sundry damages and removals. Repairs completed at Brooklyn, NY.
6/21/61: From Khorramshahr, a small fire broke out in the starboard generator room of the steamer STEEL ARTISAN at 10:30 PM. The fire was confined to the generator room and was extinguished by the crew and stevedores at 11:45 PM the same day. The fire was said to have started because of an electrical fault in the generator room. The damage was not serious, consisting of damage to electrical equipment and one generator. A certificate of seaworthiness was issued by the American Bureau of Shipping surveyor, who stated that the vessel was seaworthy but that repairs should be effected at Karachi, to which the port spares were being flown.
6/27/61: STEEL ARTISAN left Khorramshahr.
7/4/61: Vessel arrived Karachi from Houston.
4/14/62 STEEL ARTISAN, New Orleans for Khorramshar, arrives Gulfport.
4/16/62: Two barges broke loose and collide with STEEL ARTISAN at Gulfport.
4/18/62: Leaves Gulfport, having been delayed due to collision and grounding.
5/10/62: From New York, in consequence of damage sustained 4/16/62: Eight shell plates, five frames, one web frame and two deck frames partially renew, together with sundry damages and removals. Repairs deferred. Temporary repairs were dealt with at this time.
10/15/62: From Bangkok, steamer STEEL ARTISAN, Baltimore for Penang, aground 6:40 AM entering bar channel. Tug standing by. Vessel refloated at 5:47 PM with help of one tug employed on time basis. Vessel arrives Bangkok.
10/17/62: STEEL ARTISAN sailed from Bangkok for Surabaya.
5/14/63: From damage alleged sustained 4/16/62 in consequence of collision with the Federal Barge Lines Inc., barges FBL 672 and FBL 817 at Gulfport, MS: Four shell plates renew, internals straighten and partially renew , together with sundry damages and removals. From damage sustained 4/18/62, in consequence of grounding in the Gulfport Channel, MS: Five shell plates renew, considerable internals straighten and partially renew, tanks steam, clean and test, together with sundry damages and removals. From damage sustained 10/15/62, in consequence of grounding in the Bangkok bar channel while on Voyage No. 20: One shell plate renew, internals straighten and partially renew, together with sundry damages and removals. All repairs carried out at Baltimore.
6/23/67: The following message has been received from San Francisco: Steamer STEEL ARTISAN, assured States Marine Corporation, wire in propeller: Surveyor attending at Todd Shipyards Corp., Seattle.
12/10/67: STEEL ARTISAN damaged in consequence of collision with United States Navy tug NO. 769 at Da-Nang.
4/68: Damage to reduction gear.
4/22/68: Steamer STEEL ARTISAN, Houston for Calcutta, arrived Durban for bunkers and repairs reference damage to main engine gears.
5/1/68: STEEL ARTISAN left Durban for Calcutta.
5/9/68: From Durban: Steamer STEEL ARTISAN: Surveyor reports damage to main gearwheel secondary reduction pinions severe wire-edged and undercut; temporary repairs by way of honing and dressing. Condition of gearing would indicate damage induced by propeller. Diver's report indicates slight to two blades. Gears were reported to have been examined by manufacturer's representative and owner's superintendent prior to vessel's departure on this voyage and this condition was not evident.
6/20/68: Struck lock wall at Calcutta.
1/29/69: Damaged at Jacksonville.
2/10/69: From New York: From damage alleged sustained 12/10/67 in consequence of collision with U.S. Navy tug at Da-Nang: Port side aft two shell plates renew, two partially renew and two fair and internals straighten and partially renew, together with sundry damages and removals; repairs completed. From damage alleged sustained since 4/20/68, to the main propulsion turbine gearing on various voyages: Gear teeth dress as necessary, fractured connections in gear wheels grind out and reweld, high pressure turbine realign and flexible coupling renew, together with sundry damages and removals; repairs completed. From damage alleged sustained 6/20/68 from striking lock wall at Calcutta: Propeller recondition, tailshaft examine, coupling bolts renew and stern bushing rewood, together with sundry damages and removals; repairs completed.
3/25/69: Damage discovered at New Orleans to steam-heating supply line in No. 2 port deep tank.
3/31/69: From damage alleged sustained 1/29/69 at Jacksonville: Main engine low pressure turbine rotor remove ashore, one row of blading renew and one section of stationary blading repair, together with sundry damages and removals; repairs completed.
5/29/69: From New York: Steamer STEEL ARTISAN, damage alleged sustained in consequence of unknown cause, first discovered on 3/25/69, New Orleans for Calcutta, at New Orleans, which resulted in the partial loss of cargo from No. 2 port deep tank via fractured heating coil line into the pipe tunnel space: (A) No. 2 port deep tank open, cargo remove, gas-free and heating line fit with a clip: barge and tug service furnished. (B) No. 2 port deep tank open and heating line partially renew, removals and displacements, together with sundry damages and removals. (A) Temporary repairs completed, (B) repairs deferred.
7/9/69: From Hong Kong: Steamer STEEL ARTISAN was surveyed while lying afloat at Stonecutters Island Anchorage in respect of damage alleged to have been caused to steam-heating supply line in No. 2 port deep tank by a fork-lift truck at an unknown time and place, first discovered on 3/25/69. Upon examination, the supply line in No. 2 port deep tank was found to have had a temporary repair, clip fitted, there was no corrosion and surveyor considered the allegation of mechanical damage to be reasonable. The heating coil supply line in the shaft tunnel was found to be leaking and this was considered to be due to wastage. Repairs were completed satisfactorily.
9/28/70: STEEL ARTISAN, Far East for United States east coast arrived Portland, OR.
9/30/70: From Portland: Damage to boom.
10/1/70: STEEL ARTISAN left Portland.
10/9/70: The following report has been received from San Francisco: Steamer STEEL ARTISAN: Boom damage on 9/30/70.
5/4/72: From reduction gear damage in 4/68, renew complete set of main reduction gearing; cause of condition of gears still being investigated. Repairs at Baltimore.

Disposition Date	Comments
1973	Arrived at Kaohsiung 7/6/73. Sold and delivered to Yung Tai Steel & Iron Works Co., Ltd. at Kaohsiung 7/25/73. Scrapped 7/73 Kaohsiung. Reported 9/73: Sold to the Republic of China (Taiwan) for Scrapping.

The information on this page is the kind contribution of Skip Lewis. Skip, whose dad sailed for Isthmian, is an avid collector and researcher of everything Isthmian. In his quest, he has used many sources and publications including Lloyd's of London and Imperial Steel by John Atherton. Thank you, Skip. Copyright © 2003-2007 - All rights reserved.

History

Crew

Ships

Misc.

Forum

Links . Sitemap