MARAD PD-133 "Pacer" Austere Cargo Ship

[RipSteakface]

In 1966, the Maritime Administration began design work on a general purpose cargo-liner to be built in large enough numbers to be useful in national emergencies and replace war-era vessels serving in non-subsidized trade, with the idea that they be designed for minimum cost. As specified in a July 1969 Marine Link article, the ships were to be 565' long and be powered by either medium-speed diesels or steam turbines.

 

[TinWing]

In 1966, the Maritime Administration began design work on a general purpose cargo-liner to be built in large enough numbers to be useful in national emergencies and replace war-era vessels serving in non-subsidized trade, with the idea that they be designed for minimum cost. As specified in a July 1969 Marine Link article, the ships were to be 565' long and be powered by either medium-speed diesels or steam turbines.

This proposed class is larger and faster than the successful SD14 class and smaller and slower than the C7 container ships that were actual built. It was remarkable that the 1960s private sector British shipbuilding industry could embrace a standardized design with 200+ SD14 ships built world wide.