5 Replies Latest reply on Aug 3, 2018 12:33 PM by Andrew Begley

Is there a registry of all maritime vessels including decommissioned naval ships?

Patrick Power Jun 14, 2018 4:18 PM

My father served on the USS Zircon (PY-16) during World War II. The Navy purchased the Zircon from Frederick Fisher (of General Motors fame) in December of 1940, converted it for wartime use and designated as a patrol yacht, commissioning it 25 March 1941. It was decommissioned 10 May 1946 and struck from the Navy Register 5 June 1946.

Afterwards, it sailed under a Honduran flag (again as the Nakhoda), was acquired in 1971 by the United New York Sandy Hook Pilots Association of Staten Island, NY (renamed New York), then acquired in 1973 by the Polymer Engineering Corporation of Houston, Texas. Its history after 1973 is unknown.

I assume that there is some kind of national registry that keeps track of all vessels, since, like automobiles, they must be licensed to sail the waterways. If ships are sold for scrap, is there record of it?

Re: Is there a registry of all maritime vessels including decommissioned naval ships?

Andrew Begley Jun 20, 2018 2:58 PM (in response to Patrick Power)

Dear Mr. Power,

Thank you for posting your question to History Hub. National Archives facilities throughout the country hold Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Files, which document the registering, licensing, and sale of vessels in ports in their jurisdiction. It is possible that these records would indicate if the vessel was sold for scrap. If the vessel was registered in Houston, I would suggest contacting the National Archives Facility in Fort Worth, which has a series of Vessel Documentation Case Files for the port of Houston. The reference staff in Fort Worth can be reached at ftworth.archives@nara.gov.

The National Archives in New York may also hold additional information on the earlier sale of the vessel in its Vessel Documentation Files, 1962 - 1980.

Best of luck with your research!

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- Re: Is there a registry of all maritime vessels including decommissioned naval ships?
  
  Patrick Power Jun 20, 2018 3:04 PM (in response to Andrew Begley)
  
  Thanks so much, Andrew! I had already contacted the Houston Yacht Club and was told that there was no record of the Zircon/Nakhoda/New York in their records, but this looks promising.
  
  By the way, I have also contacted the son and grandson of the man who purchased the ship, but neither have responded.
  
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Re: Is there a registry of all maritime vessels including decommissioned naval ships?

Patrick Power Jul 2, 2018 8:47 PM (in response to Patrick Power)

Thanks, Andrew!

Unfortunately, the archives at Fort Worth had nothing on the ship, nor did the archives in Atlanta, which covers Florida. I've been in contact with the grandson of the owner at the time it "disappeared"... he said that it ran aground in Key West in 1973 and that his grandfather began to repair it, but that he doesn't know what might have happened to it after that.

I'm attempting to contact the Coast Guard to see if they have any record of this.

Thanks again!
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- Re: Is there a registry of all maritime vessels including decommissioned naval ships?
  
  Patrick Power Jul 31, 2018 3:59 PM (in response to Patrick Power)
  
  Following up on this should anyone find it of interest and/or use...
  
  Abstract of Title/Certified COD Requests can be submitted at the National Vessel Documentation Center website: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Deputy-for-Operations-Policy-and-Capabilities-DCO-D/National-Vessel-Documentat…
  
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  - Re: Is there a registry of all maritime vessels including decommissioned naval ships?
    
    Andrew Begley Aug 3, 2018 12:33 PM (in response to Patrick Power)
    
    That's good to know. Thanks!
    
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Is there a registry of all maritime vessels including decommissioned naval ships?

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