“A Freighter in Port” is a wonderful 1950s educational film about merchant ships, explaining not only how they work but describing their layout and equipment in the era prior to the arrival of shipping containers. The primary ship shown is the USS Marmactide, ex- USS Lyon (AP-71), which was built in 1939 and served in WWII, and USS Comayagua, a refrigerated cargo ship owned by United Fruit Co. — a real banana boat! The film shows various equipment on the ship including anchors, rat guards, gangways, smokestack / funnel, engine room, whistle, booms, etc. The responsibilities of various crewmen are also shown.

A great shot of Matson Lines Berth 160 of the Port of Los Angeles is seen at the 6:45 mark. Longshoremen are shown loading oranges for delivery overseas.

USS Lyon (AP-71) was a ship of the United States Navy which played an extensive role in naval transportation during World War II. The Lyon was built as the Mormactide under a Maritime Commission contract by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Company of Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was laid down 21 August 1939, and was launched on 12 October 1940; sponsored by Gloria McGehee. On 20 August 1942, the ship was acquired by the Navy and was renamed the Lyon after Mary Lyon, the founder of Mount Holyoke College (then Mount Holyoke Female Seminary). (See also List of U.S. military vessels named after women.)

The Lyon was transferred for conversion to the Atlantic Basin Iron Works of Brooklyn, New York on 13 September 1942. The ship was commissioned on 16 September 1942, with Captain M.J. Gillan in command. After the ship’s service in World War II, the ship was decommissioned on 3 May 1946, and was returned to her owners, Moore-McCormack Lines. In 1966 the ship was acquired by Grace Lines and renamed the Santa Regina.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com