SS ''Ideal X'', a converted

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

T-2 oil tanker, was the first commercially successful container ship. Built by The Marinship Corporation during World War II as ''Potrero Hills,'' she was later purchased by Malcom McLean's Pan-Atlantic Steamship Company.Cudahy, 2006. In 1955, the ship was modified to carry shipping containers and rechristened ''Ideal X''. During her first voyage in her new configuration, on 26 April 1956, the ''Ideal X'' carried 58 containers from Port Newark,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, to Port of Houston, Texas, where 58 trucks were waiting to be loaded with the containers.Levinson, 2006, p. 1. It was not the first purpose built container ship: the '' Clifford J. Rodgers'', operated by the White Pass and Yukon Route, had made its debut in 1955. In 1959, the vessel was acquired by Bulgarian owners, who rechristened her ''Elemir''. The ''Elemir'' suffered extensive damage during heavy weather on 8 February 1964, and was sold in turn to Japanese breakers. She was finally scrapped on 20 October 1964, in Hirao, Japan.

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External links

Vessel data at Dept. of Transportation26 April 1956: The Container Ship's Maiden Voyage
Container ships T2 tankers 1944 ships Ships built in Sausalito, California World War II merchant ships of the United States Steamships of the United States Merchant ships of the United States Merchant ships of Bulgaria Steamships of Bulgaria {{Merchantship-stub