American Islander

Some early reefer containers on deck especially the dark blue (machinery end) unit on the right. Interesting to note that the reefers are owned by PFEL (Pacific Far East Line) was there a connection?

Hi Tom, just saw the message. Yep,the reefer boxes were old-- they were obviously rebadged (see where the logos are painted on).Whether there was a connection between USL and PFEL when this ship and her sister first operated in the Far East is unknown to me-- all that had gone before seemed even unknown to USL HQ in NYC!

All I can say is, this was one eventful ship! Refit late 77, drydock Hoboken early 78,taken off service early 79, back to the Far East via Panama (I was 3rd mate on this trip)-- power failure at Cristobal, anchor for portable gennies for the reefers, transit the canal and total power loss, go aground,refloat, permanent tug escort to Panama, anchor/alongside for more repairs, cross the Pacific, at Midway lose all the fresh water, return to Honolulu for water, resume to Yokohama, 4 days short of Yokohama all the domestic food refigerators/freezers packed in, we ate precooked food for the last 4 days!No wonder the old man had a break-down!!

John, you could write a book about that voyage alone, talk about a hell ship.