Page 8: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2003)

Leading Off 50 Years Ago

S. S. AMERICA GETS BIG WELCOME

ON FIRST VISIT TO HOME PORT

A tumultuous welcome was given on Mon- Academy. A brief welcoming ceremony was day to the new United States Lines' flagship held as soon as Capt. Giles R. Stedman. mas-

America as the 35,000-ton vessel, largest and ter of the America, and John M. Franklin, fastest merchantman ever built in this country, president of the L'nited States Lines, had de- made her first visit to her home port in New scended the gangplank.

N ork, The l ire Department Band played "God

From the moment the America passed Sandy Bless America," the inevitable theme song of

Hook the harbor was marked by a shrill and the liner's debut, and the sweltering pier continuous ovation from freighters, tugboats, echoed to the chorus as the crowd spontane- ferries and specially chartered excursion steam- ously >ang the popular anthem, ers. The din increased in volume, reaching crescendo when the America hove in sight off Principal Features the Battery. Then the harbor craft tied down , ... v . . 72r their whistles, setting uii a tumult thti Lma:h pnwatifebre Ht drowned the cheers of thousands in Batten »»» m<,u«i. mn w n , )>- |'th uu.hlcd to sport* tleck ' ark. ^ l„.mj r„„i,ir,i 32-6" Aboard the America on her vovage from the <""<* tonnw ' ; - ..... . .. .. - . - DUpbcrmrnt. full load. loM 35.440 builder > \ irds at Newport \cv.s \ a were N . ,.., M , 851 truest* of the line, including fifteen Sena Ouaranwri THW knots 20 • . • , • , Ke*< '

In July 1940, SS America made it's inaugural voyage to its homeport in New York, as reported in the July 31, 1940 edition of Maritime Activity Reports. The 723-ft. ship, built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, was, at 35,000 tons, the largest and fastest (23 knots) merchant ship ever built in the country.

A Little Unsolicited Advice

Not all Louisiana-built boats are constructed in modern shipyards where metal plates are cut to thousandths of a inch. Like the three deck boat above, many vessels are constructed by individu- als in their backyard. These one-off craftsmen are often bedeviled by dozens of well-meaning indi- viduals who stop by unannounced with tons of advice on boat building. That's the reason for the signs on the vessel. (Thanks to Larry Pearson)

Did you Know?

That Pigeons have been trained by the

U.S. Coast Guard to spot people lost at sea. This little known fact appeared on the inside of a Snapple bottle caps.

Dubbed Real Fact #125, this tidbit of information is part of the Real Facts series that the beverage company has been promoting on its bottle caps.

Separation of Church and State?

IF I SHOULD pIE

BEFORE I WAKE,

T/tfT5 ONE LESS TEST,

I'LL HAVE To TAKE.'

Circle 241 on Reader Service Card

While the U.S. Supreme Court wrestles with the issue of prayer in schools, Sea School, the College of Nautical Knowledge, endorses its own special prayer for students studying for their Charterboat Captain's License.

Now I sit me down to study

I pray the Lord I won't go nutty

With plotting, rules, and signals to pass

Lord keep me from falling on my a * *

But if I do, don't pity me

My course is plotted

Just let me be.

Tell my instructor I did my best

Then pile my textbook upon my chest

And when I lay me down to rest

I pray I'll pass the Captain's test

If I should die before I wake

That's one less test I'll have to take. www.seaschool.com

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News