PIONEER COMMANDER

Year Built

1963

Official Number

290905

Shipyard

Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding Division

General Type

General Cargo

Specific Type

Break Bulk

MARAD Type

Ship Length

560.90 feet

Beam

75.00 feet

Mast Height

125.70 feet

Net Tons

6616.00 tons

Gross Tons

11105.00 tons

Cargo Capacity

Draft, Summer

31.00 tons

Draft, Lightweight

15.00 tons

Displacement, Summer

21053.00 tons

Displacement, Lightweight

7518.00 tons

Immersion, Summer

68.00 tons

Immersion, Lightweight

54.00 tons

Fate

Sold - Scrap

Historical Narrative

Vessel Name History

AMERICAN COMMANDER

There is no historical narrative for this vessel at this time.

Vessel Name History

AMERICAN COMMANDER

PIONEER COMMANDER

Mission

No Mission for this vessel

Historical Documents

Name	Download

Milestones

Event	Date	Content
Ship Name Change	(No Date)	Ship AMERICAN COMMANDER changes name to PIONEER COMMANDER
Arrival	3/25/1975	"On March 27, 1975, the sea evacuation of Danang began. Over the next several days, the Pioneer Commander, Pioneer Contender, American Challenger, Sgt. Andrew Miller, and several barge-pulling tugs arrived at the port"
Transfer	11/1/1980	"In November 1980, the Pioneer Commander was traded into the Maritime Administration and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) anchorage at Beaumont, Texas."
Acquisition	11/7/1980
Entry	5/14/1981
Interim Movement	1/31/1997	Under tow to BRF
Interim Movement	2/13/1997
Interim Movement	11/9/1998	Under tow to CBH Services in Orange TX
Interim Movement	11/9/1998	At CBH Services for repair & COI renewal
Interim Movement	1/5/1999	Under tow to BRF
Interim Movement	1/5/1999	Completed repairs and cargo gear testing
Downgrade	10/1/2001	It was downgraded to a non-retention vessel in October 2001
	8/1/2006
Donation Hold	4/30/2009	Vessel placed on donation hold while being advertised for donation in the Federal Register.
Ship name change	5/29/2009
Cleared Historic Review	7/16/2009	Vessel was advertised for donation in the National Register but attracted no bidders.
Ship name change	8/6/2012
Withdrawal	9/19/2012	Vessel departed under domestic sale contract with Marine Metal, Inc. in Brownsville, TX.