New England Shipbuilding

New England Shipbuilding was really two emergency yards. Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding was one of the original nine emergency yards, built in 1940 with 7 ways by Todd, Bath Iron Works and Kaiser to build "Ocean"-class cargo ships for Britain. South Portland Shipbuilding, with 4 ways, was added in the second wave of shipbuilding expansion, at the direction of the USMC, which provided $23mm: its 4 ways were increased to 6 in the third wave of shipbuilding expansion. Todd and Bath subsequently bought out Kaiser's interest and the two yards were brought under common management as New England Shipbuilding in 1943. At its peak, New England Shipbuilding employed 30,000 people. The yards were idled after the war: there were several attempts to revive them, without success. See the site from the air on Google here.

Hull # 280, the "Jeremiah O'Brien", has been completely restored and is operational. Visit her at her berth at Pier 45 at Fisherman's Wharf, in San Francisco, California, or on the web at www.ssjeremiahobrien.org

Hull #	Name	Type	MC #	Way #	Keel Laid	Launched	Delivered	Days on Ways	Days in Water	Total Days	Disposition
1	Ocean Liberty	Ocean			24-May-41	20-Dec-41	Mar-42				Sold private 1947, in Cuba 1969
2	Ocean Freedom	Ocean				20-Dec-41	Mar-42				Sunk by air attack in Murmansk Mar-43
3	Ocean Peace	Ocean					Apr-42				Sunk by air attack off Sicily Jul-43
4	Ocean Justice	Ocean					Apr-42				Sunk by torpedo in the Caribbean Nov-42
5	Ocean Honour	Ocean					May-42				Sunk by torpedo near Socotra Island Sep-42
6	Ocean Faith	Ocean					May-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1962
7	Ocean Hope	Ocean					May-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1971
8	Ocean Pride	Ocean					Jun-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1966
9	Ocean Might	Ocean					Jun-42				Sunk by torpedo southwest of Takoradi Sep-42
10	Ocean Courage	Ocean					Jun-42				Sunk by torpedo south of the Cape Verde Islands Jan-43
11	Ocean Fame	Ocean					Jul-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1966
12	Ocean Strength	Ocean					Jul-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1965
13	Ocean Trader	Ocean					Jul-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1969
14	Ocean Wanderer	Ocean					Jul-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1962
15	Ocean Pilgrim	Ocean					Aug-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1967
16	Ocean Merchant	Ocean					Aug-42				To the Netherlands 1943 as Jan Lievens, in China 1959
17	Ocean Rider	Ocean					Aug-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1968
18	Ocean Athlete	Ocean					Aug-42				To the Netherlands 1943 as Govert Flinck, scrapped 1985
19	Ocean Wayfarer	Ocean				4-Aug-42	Sep-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1953
20	Ocean Stranger	Ocean				4-Aug-42	Sep-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1965
21	Ocean Traveller	Ocean				4-Aug-42	Sep-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1959
22	Ocean Seaman	Ocean				4-Aug-42	Sep-42				Sunk by torpedo off Algiers Mar-43
23	Ocean Gallant	Ocean				4-Aug-42	Oct-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1967
24	Ocean Courier	Ocean				4-Aug-42	Oct-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1960
25	Ocean Messenger	Ocean					Oct-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1961
26	Ocean Angel	Ocean					Oct-42				Sold private 1947, scrapped 1960
27	Ocean Hunter	Ocean					Oct-42				Sunk by air attack off Algeria Oct-44
28	Ocean Crusader	Ocean					Nov-42

New England Shipbuilding Company, South Portland ME