By the late 1960s, upwards of 70% of the trade between the U.S. and Europe was containerized with the remaining percentage better suited to other cargo handling methods.
In an effort to remain competitive with SeaLand, United States Lines, and a growing number of other carriers, New York-headquartered Moore-McCormick Lines’ ordered four new, fast combination roll-on/roll- off containerships “Sea-Bridge”-class vessels from Litton Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division shipyard at Pascagoula, Miss.
The vessel class was designed specifically to include the earning potential of the specialized bulk cargo that could not be overlooked in the competitive transatlantic trade mix. The ships were thus equipped to handle standard dry containers on deck, as well as specially designed cargo holds capable of handling both refrigerated and break-bulk containers.
Each of the four “Sea-Bridge” ships – Mormacsea, Mormacstar, Mormacsun, and Mormacsky – featured not only standard heavy lift capability, as well as a unique – for the time – roll-on/roll-off rear ramp that made the ships able to load all forms of outsize cargo including large tractors, agricultural equipment, household moving vans, specialized refrigerated trailers, extra-length steel beams, and even small locomotives and railroad stock.
One of the ships’ prominent and curious features was the small enclosed and heated compartment located at the extreme bow that was intended to shelter the bow lookout while the ships were operating in the winter Atlantic.
The 602-foot, 16,380 dwt. Mormacsky and her three sisterships were powered by geared turbines that gave them a service speed of more than 25 knots. They had a container capacity of 400 FEUs, 50 of which could be refrigerated. The “Sea-Bridges” were the first U.S.-flag ships to have total bridge control of speed, boiler and reefer temperatures, and other remote controls.
The four ships sailed for Moore-McCormick for little more than a year as the company was forced out of the North Atlantic trade due to a fierce rate war and increasing competition from European carriers. The ships were sold in 1970 to American Export Lines which operated them with the names of classic U.S. clipper ships. The Mormacsky sailed as the Great Republic until 1978 when it was acquired by Farrell Lines.
Later acquired by the U.S. government, the ship underwent a two-year conversion to an Aviation Maintenance Logistics Ship at the Todd Shipyards at Galveston, Tx. Renamed Curtiss (T-AVB 4), the ship is currently assigned to the Military Sealift Command’s Ready Reserve Force and – when activated – is tasked to provide support for U.S. Marine Corps aircraft.
The Curtiss, ex-Great Republic, ex-Mormacsky is currently in reduced operation status at Pier 9 at San Diego, Calif., and is able to be fully activated within 5 days.