Gross Tonnage:	7,056	Net:	4,381
Dimensions:	424' 2" x 56' 2" x 26' 5"	MC Type:
Builder:	Federal Shipbuilding Co. Kearny, NJ	Hull # USMC Hull # Date of Build: Delivered:	68 1922
Engines:	2 Steam Turbines DR Geared to Single Screwed Shaft	Engine Builder:	Federal Shipbuilding Co. Kearny, NJ
Navigation:	GyC	Decks, etc.:	3 Decks, Fitted for Oil Fuel

Began Isthmian Service:

1922

Ended Isthmian Service:

1942

----------------------------------- Vessel History -----------------------------------

Date	Vessel #	Vessel Name	Vessel Owner	Call Ltrs	Home Port	Flag
1922	222539	Steel Traveler	U.S. Steel Products Co. New York	MDTF	New York	US
1930	222539	Steel Traveler	May: Isthmian Lines, Inc. New York	MDTF	New York	US
1933	222539	Steel Traveler	Isthmian Lines, Inc. New York	KFCI	New York	US
1942		Steel Traveler	US Army, allocated as Transport			US

Events:
10/27/22: Last vessel out of the Federal yard departs on maiden voyage from New York to Singapore via Philadelphia under the command of Capt. N. G. Turner.

Disposition Date

Comments

1944

12/18 - On December 18th the vessel sailed in the 8 ship Convoy ATM-16 from Antwerp Belgium to Downs, England, with a cargo of 1,500 tons ballast, Savilion Huntington Chapman Master. The ships proceeded down the Schelde River in single column. At 5 PM, while steaming 6 knots, in mid-channel, 2 cable lengths east of buoy NF 14, the freighter struck a mine. The explosion occurred under the #3 hold on the starboard side. Immediately the ship broke in half, splitting between the #3 hatch and the fireroom. The ship began to flood and sink rapidly. Most of the 8 officers, 37 crewmen, 26 armed guards and 1 passenger escaped in 2 lifeboats and 2 rafts. Within minutes of the explosion, water had reached the bridge with both the bow and stern in the air. The French Destroyer LA COMBATTANTE rescued all survivors from the boats and rafts, landing them at Birkenhead. One officer and 1 merchant crew member died.

The information on this web site is the kind contribution of our Historian, Skip Lewis, © 2003. Skip, whose dad sailed for Isthmian, is an avid collector and researcher of everything Isthmian and States Marine. In his quest, he has used many sources and publications including Lloyd's of London and Imperial Steel by John Atherton.