Our History

1919

Before we became US Ocean, we were Waterman Steamship Corporation (Waterman). Established on June 10, 1919, in Mobile, Alabama, by John B. Waterman. The business operated in the British trade, running from the Gulf of Mexico to Liverpool and Manchester with one ship, the Eastern Sun.

1931

Waterman secured a U.S. Postal Service Ocean Mail contract and with awarded subsidies through the Jones-White Act, the Company purchased 14 government ships.

The new Waterman fleet engaged in transporting mail between East Gulf Ports and the United Kingdom and Continental Europe for the next five years.

1940

Prior to World War II, Waterman expanded to own and operate 38 U.S.-flag vessels. Its reach extended to the Far East, the United Kingdom, and Europe, and engaged in coastwise service between the U.S. Gulf and U.S. East Coast as well as an inter-coastal service between U.S. Atlantic and Pacific ports.

During WWII, Waterman operated 125 ships, acting as agent for the War Shipping Administration.

In support of the allied campaign, Waterman ships and sailors braved the U-boat terror of the Atlantic shipping routes. In all, 320 men lost their lives. Through such sacrifice, Waterman emerged from the conflict as one of America’s most respected shipping companies.

1947

Central Gulf Lines (CGL) was founded on June 8 with the purchase of its first vessel, the war-built Liberty ship SS Horatio Allen renamed SS GREEN WAVE (in honor of the Tulane University Athletic Teams in New Orleans, Louisiana).

1955

Waterman and its subsidiaries, Pan American Steamship Corporation and Gulf Florida Terminal Company, Inc. were purchased by McLean Industries, Inc.

Through the late 1950s and 1960s, Waterman owned and operated 27 cargo vessels of the C-2 type which serviced the U.S. Gulf, North Atlantic, and Pacific Coast to and from Puerto Rico, continental Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Far East.

Notably, a very important vessel in this fleet was Ideal-X, the first ever container ship. Her maiden voyage sailed from Port of Newark, New Jersey, to Port Houston carrying 58 35-ft containers and 15,000 tons of bulk petroleum.

Through this period, CGL increased its fleet to 37 vessels and became the number one U.S. flag carrier between the U.S. and Middle East ports.

1969

In September, CGL commissioned the first LASH (Lighter Aboard Ship) vessel, SS Acadia Forest, that sailed on her maiden voyage between Puerto Rico and Panama City, FL.

1974

CGL built the first U.S.-flag LASH vessel in America, SS Green Valley, at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans. The second U.S.-built, SS Green Harbour, also laid at Avondale, was delivered to CGL later that year.

1983

Waterman entered bankruptcy but emerged in 1986 due in part to the chartering of its three new roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) ships to the U.S. government.

In March 1989, Niels and Erik Johnsen of New Orleans-based International Shipholding Corporation (ISH) acquired CGL, enabling the expansion into car and truck carrier (PCTC) operations.

1986

Partnership with NYK begins. CGL signed contracts with Toyota and Honda to carry automobiles from Japan to the U.S. on two new U.S.-flag Ro/Ro vessels - M/V GREEN LAKE and M/V GREEN BAY. The two ships were the first built in Japan and registered U.S. flag.

1986

1989

CGL’s parent company, ISH, acquired Waterman.

1996

CGL and Waterman served as original participants of the Maritime Security Program (MSP) filling seven of the 47 slots.

Waterman operated three Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) for Military Sealift Command for more than 25 years. MPS vessels SS Maj. Stephan W. Pless, SS Sgt. Matej Kocak, and SS Eugene A. Oregon were stationed in the Indian Ocean at Diego Garcia.

2002

Intermarine flagged in its first U.S.-flag Multi-Purpose (MPP) vessel, the M/V OCEAN ATLAS (formerly M/V OCEAN CHALLENGER) to offer customized solutions for U.S. impelled breakbulk and project cargoes.

2005

US Ocean LLC was officially formed as the operating company for Intermarine’s U.S.-flag fleet. The company was awarded two MSP slots, adding a second vessel, the M/V OCEAN TITAN.

2009-2012

US Ocean added four more MPP vessels to the fleet and entered three vessels into MSP. During this time, the Company served as leading transportation provider for EXIM-sponsored cargoes.

2013-2016

US Ocean introduced larger MPPs to the fleet in support of major U.S. international military exercises including Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) cargoes. In 2015, the M/V OCEAN GRAND and M/V OCEAN GLORY join the US Ocean fleet.

2017

Seacor Holdings Inc. completed the acquisition of ISH, including its subsidiaries CGL, Waterman, as well as entities operating in the rail car ferry and dry bulk space.

2017

2018

Intermarine spun off its US Flag division, US Ocean into a standalone entity.

2019

Sister companies, CGL and Waterman, officially integrated operations behind the Waterman name and operated four U.S.-flag PCTCs in MSP providing transportation and logistics services for military cargoes and automobiles worldwide.

2020

The M/V OCEAN GLADIATOR, sister ship of the M/V OCEAN GIANT entered the MPP fleet. Both vessels are ice-classed and have successfully transported cargoes to austere environments like Antarctica and Greenland.

2021

US Ocean was acquired by SEACOR Holdings contributing seven multi-purpose, heavylift vessels to the fleet and five additional MSP slots.

Waterman worked closely with NYK on a new build program to replace two older PCTCs and ensure vessels were purpose-built and optimized for military cargoes.

2023-2024

Newbuild PCTCs, M/V GREEN OCEAN and M/V GREEN WAVE were delivered into the fleet providing high doors and a large amount of militarily useful deck space.

2025

Waterman and US Ocean officially unified behind the singular US Ocean brand name and integrated the long-time ship management team from within the SEACOR portfolio. Today, the business stands as one of the industry’s only fully integrated U.S.-flag transportation and logistics solutions providers offering mission-critical service to more than 200 locations annually across all seven continents for military and commercial customers.

2025