The SS Albert M. Boe is a distinguished Liberty ship notable for being the final vessel of its class constructed during World War II. Laid down on July 11, 1945, at the East Yard of New England Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, Maine, the ship was built as a boxed aircraft transport variant, differing from standard Liberty ships in several design aspects. It featured four large holds instead of five and employed kingpost lifting gear instead of the typical booms, aligning with the C5 design variation of the Liberty class. Named in honor of Chief Engineer Albert M. Boe, the vessel commemorates his heroism during a 1945 explosion aboard the USS Colonel William J. McKiernan (FS-216), where he remained in the engine room despite fatal burns to control a fire and save fellow crew members. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. Constructed with hull number 3132 and assigned official number 248849, the SS Albert M. Boe was launched on September 26, 1945, and delivered to the War Shipping Administration on October 30, 1945. Initially operated by Wessel, Duval & Co., it was placed in the Wilmington Reserve Fleet in November 1946. The vessel was transferred to the U.S. Army in February 1947 and served as USAT Albert M. Boe under a bareboat charter. In 1950, with the reorganization of military transportation, the ship was transferred to the U.S. Navy and designated USNS Albert M. Boe (T-AKV-6). During its naval service, it supported operations in the Pacific and Korea, primarily transporting aircraft, engines, and spare parts. The vessel was decommissioned and transferred to the Maritime Administration in 1954, entering the Olympia Reserve Fleet and being struck from the Naval Register. In 1964, the ship was sold for $65,556.58 to Zidell Explorations, Inc., and converted in 1965 into the fish cannery ship Star of Kodiak, which is still in use as a facility of Trident Seafoods in Kodiak, Alaska. The SS Albert M. Boe's service history highlights its significance as the last of the Liberty ships and its versatile post-war career in both military and commercial roles.

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