"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows . . ."

The purpose of taking supplies to nations in need has benefited thousands of people during times of natural disasters, wars, and poverty. The vessels have traveled to many countries including Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, Albania, Croatia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, Latvia (then the USSR), St. Kitts/Nevis, Antigua and St. Lucia. The ships have visited many of these countries two, three, even four times! Spirit's deliveries reaching people in need are only a portion of Friend Ships' accomplishments.

Ship Data: "Spirit" is one of 218 ships from the "R1-M-AV1"-type (her holds were originally refrigerated) built in 1944 for the US Maritime Commission as the "Palisana" at the Pennsylvania Shipyard in Beaumont, Texas. The ship was built for commissioning by the Navy. She carried supplies to the troops overseas, transported returning servicemen home and successfully dodged the Japanese Navy, who, on several occasions, hunted Spirit to destroy her. In 1946, Spirit's military career ended and she was decommissioned. Alaska Steamship Company leased her from the government and she was employed for several years to haul refrigerated supplies from Puget Sound to Nome, Alaska. In 1957, "Spirit" made her last commercial voyage and she was later purchased by a maritime company in Tacoma, Washington. Friend Ships obtained "Spirit" on October 2, 1985.

Links with additional information or history of this vessel:

• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

• Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

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