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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Table 5-5National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), 1945-2000

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Table 5-5
National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), 1945-2000

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Fiscal year NDRF Reimbursable Total ships
1945 5 NA 5
1946 1421 NA 1421
1947 1204 NA 1204
1948 1675 NA 1675
1949 1934 NA 1934
1950 2277 NA 2277
1951 1767 NA 1767
1952 1853 NA 1853
1953 1932 NA 1932
1954 2067 NA 2067
1955 2068 NA 2068
1956 2061 NA 2061
1957 1889 NA 1889
1958 2074 NA 2074
1959 2060 NA 2060
1960 2000 NA 2000
1961 1923 NA 1923
1962 1862 NA 1862
1963 1819 NA 1819
1964 1739 NA 1739
1965 1594 NA 1594
1966 1327 NA 1327
1967 1087 65 1152
1968 1045 17 1062
1969 981 36 1017
1970 947 80 1027
1971 851 9 860
1972 669 4 673
1973 533 8 541
1974 473 14 487
1975 407 12 419
1976 339 9 348
1977 271 71 342
1978 236 70 306
1979 245 77 322
1980 261 65 326
1981 262 61 323
1982 254 49 303
1983 247 46 293
1984 248 135 383
1985 272 178 450
1986 280 20 300
1987 270 54 324
1988 253 67 320
1989 258 54 312
1990 236 93 329
1991 234 82 316
1992 230 76 306
1993 227 75 302
1994 208 78 286
1995 220 76 296
1996 219 84 303
1997 217 90 307
1998 220 87 307
1999 255 57 312
2000 258 67 325

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, Division of Reserve Fleet, personal communication, August 2001.

  • The NDRF was established to serve as a reserve that could be activated to meet shipping requirements during national emergencies.
  • The NDRF consists of dry cargo vessels, tankers, military auxiliaries, and other ship types. Vessels are either owned by the Maritime Administration or held for other government agencies on a reimbursable basis.
  • NDRF vessels have supported emerging shipping requirements in several wars and crises.