MARAD’s Last Liberty Ship Reaches Greece
Flying the Greek flag, the Hellas Liberty, formerly known as the Arthur M. Huddell, has safely reached the port of Piraeus in Greece after leaving Norfolk, Virginia, on December 6, 2008. Until July 2008, the World War II-era Huddell was the last Liberty ship in the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet., and was moored in the James River Reserve Fleet site at Fort Eustis. The ship was cleaned at a Norfolk shipyard before being towed to Greece. American shipyards built 2,751 Liberty ships during World War II, in the largest shipbuilding effort in history. Liberty ships crewed by merchant mariners carried troops and military cargo all over the world. The building and sailing of the Liberty ships, and their successors, the Victory ships, were overseen by the U.S.
Last Liberty Ship May Go To Greece
Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton signed a Memorandum of Understanding with representatives of the Government of Greece to pursue an agreement to transfer the ship Arthur M. Huddell to the Greek government for use as a museum. The World War II-era Huddell is the last ship in the Maritime Administration’s fleet. It is currently moored in the James River Reserve Fleet site at . "It is great to be able to save a bit of history from both our nations," said Connaughton. American shipyards built 2,751 ships during World War II, in the largest shipbuilding effort in history. ships crewed by merchant mariners carried troops and military cargo all over the world. The building and sailing of the ships, and their successors, the Victory Ships, were overseen by the U.S.
