The SS Niels Poulson was a Liberty ship constructed in the United States during World War II, serving as a vital cargo vessel for the Allied war effort. Built under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2371) by J.A. Jones Construction in Brunswick, Georgia, the ship was laid down on July 6, 1944, and launched on August 18, 1944. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. W.H. McWhirter and was named after Niels Poulson, an architect and philanthropist. As a Liberty ship, the Niels Poulson was designed for rapid and economical construction to meet wartime logistics needs. Although specific dimensions are not provided in the source, Liberty ships typically measured around 441 feet in length, with a beam of approximately 57 feet, and were powered by a triple-expansion steam engine capable of speeds up to about 11 knots. The vessel was allocated to the Dichmann Wright & Pugh Company on September 5, 1944, and participated in wartime shipping operations. Her service was relatively short-lived, ending in December 1946 when she struck a mine off Gorgona, Italy. The mine damage led to the ship being towed to Leghorn (Livorno), Italy, where she was declared a constructive total loss (CTL) on December 19, 1946. The incident marked the end of her active service. Subsequently, on February 20, 1948, the SS Niels Poulson was sold for scrapping, along with 39 other vessels, including her sister ships SS Isaac Shelby and SS Cassius Hudson. The sale price was $520,000, and the buyer was Venturi Salvaggi Ricuperi Imprese Marittime Societa per Azioni of Genoa. Her brief but significant service life exemplifies the crucial role Liberty ships played during WWII and the post-war period, as well as the dangers faced by maritime vessels operating in war zones.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.