SS Argentina
While going through a recent(ish) bulk meter purchase, I came across the below which falls into two of my collecting interests, meter stamps and ships on stamps.
The SS Argentina was the last passenger ship produced in United States. She was constructed by Ingalls Shipbuilding at Pascagoula, Mississippi for the Moore-McCormack line.
Meter Details
The meter stamp is by Pitney Bowes and is listed in the International Meter Stamp Catalogue as IA4.1.
Ships Details
The Argentina was 574.4 feet long with a beam of 84 feet and a draught of 27.25 feet. Her Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) was 14,894 and her two General Electric turbines produced 28,000 hp for a top speed of 23 knots.
Designed to carry 557 passengers, her maiden voyage was from New York City to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Over the years the Argentina was renamed numerous times:
- Veendam (1972-1974)
- Brasil (1974-1975)
- Veendam (1975-1976)
- Monarch Star (1976-1978)
- Veendam (1978-1984)
- Bermuda Star (1984-1990)
- Enchanted Isle (1990—2003)
- New Orleans (2003)
In 2003 she made her final voyage to Alang, India for the breakers.