National Defense Reserve Fleet

The National Defense Reserve Fleet was established under the Maritime Administration by Section 11 of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946, to serve as a reserve which could be activated to meet shipping requirements during national emergencies. At its peak, 2, 277 ships were laid up at 12 sites throughout the United States. Currently, NDRF vessels are maintained at the James River,VA., Beaumont, TX., and Suisun Bay, CA., fleet sites, and at designated outport berths.

The NDRF consists of dry cargo vessels, tankers, military auxiliaries, and other ship types. Vessels are either owned by the Maritime Administration or held for other Government agencies on a reimbursable basis.

NDRF vessels have supported emergency shipping requirements in several wars and crises. During the Korean War, 540 vessels were broken out to support military forces. A worldwide tonnage shortage in 1951-1953 required over 600 ships to be reactivated to lift coal to Northern Europe and grain to India. From 1955 to 1964 another 600 ships were used to store grain for the Department of Agriculture. Another tonnage shortfall following the Suez Canal closing in 1956 saw 223 cargo ships and 29 tankers activated from the NDRF. During the Berlin crisis of 1961, 18 vessels were activated and remained in service until 1970. In the Vietnam conflict, 172 vessels were activated to meet military requirements rather than requisition commercial vessels away from trade. To support the massive Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm sealift to the Persian Gulf, 79 RRF vessels and 2 RRF-like vessels were activated. During the Haitian crisis, 14 ships were activated within an average of 3.1 days when they were required within an average of 4.8 days. Five Roll-On/Roll-Off vessels were deployed on three separate occasions to deliver military cargoes from Nothern Europe to Bosnia.

Older vessels, including many remaining from World War II, are being systematically scrapped. (see ship scrapping program).