Launched on May 28, 1945, and completed at the end of July the same year, the SS Bessemer's Victory (T-AG-186) served in Korea as part of the Echelon Movement Group X although she did not see much of World War II. She was one of the twelve ships intended to be transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service for cargo duty during the Vietnam conflict, but the move was canceled in early 1966. However, she ended up transporting cargo to the region under a commercial charter.
One of the reasons so many Victory ships are being scrapped in developing nations could be found in the very lax environmental regulations specific to such areas of the world. Asbestos was heavily used in the construction of these vessels and this toxic mineral releases large quantities of dust when cut, which when inhaled produces long-term inflammation and scarring of the lungs.
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