The MS Transpet was a gasoline tanker with a notable history rooted in its construction and service during the mid-20th century. Originally laid down as MV Avoca, the vessel was built under a Maritime Commission contract by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company in Jacksonville, Florida, with her keel laid on 14 February 1945. She was intended to be a Klickitat-class T1 tanker for the US Navy, designated USS Petaluma (AOG-69), and was launched on 5 May 1945. However, due to the end of World War II, her commissioning was canceled on 26 August 1945, before she was ever officially commissioned into the Navy. At approximately 85% completion when the war ended, the ship's plans changed, and she was ultimately completed by the Maryland Drydock Company in Baltimore in October 1947. She was then sold to the National Petroleum Transport Corporation and renamed Transpet. During her early years, from 1947 to 1951, she flew the United States flag, serving as a commercial tanker. In 1951, Transpet was re-registered under the Panamanian flag and operated by D.K. Ludwig of New York for the British-American Oil Company. Her service was marked by a significant incident on 30 October 1951, when she departed Montreal for Halifax, carrying 1.5 million imperial gallons of gasoline and kerosene. The following day, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, she suffered a catastrophic engine room explosion, resulting in the deaths of two crew members. The remaining eighteen crew members abandoned the sinking vessel and were rescued by the British ship Ottinge at North Sydney, Nova Scotia. Her wreck was located in May 1954 at a depth of 120 feet off Miscou Island, using the innovative "sea scanar" device—marking a notable milestone as the first wreck recovered using this technology. The MS Transpet's history highlights her as a vessel of both operational significance and technological interest within maritime salvage efforts.

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