The SS John Stagg was a tanker-type (Z-ET1-S-C3) Liberty ship built at the Delta Shipbuilding Company, New Orleans, Louisiana, during World War II. The ship was named after John Stagg, the President of Alabama Presbyterian College for men. Although the ship was a tanker, she was disguised to look like a cargo ship, with her deck piping concealed and dummy cargo handling gear fitted. The Liberty Ship SS John Stagg carried heavy deck cargo or aircraft in addition to oil and was a member of a number of convoys during World War II, including Convoy HX 285 which sailed from New York on 28 March 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 12 April and Convoy USG 45 which departed Hampton Roads on 12 June 1944, and arrived at Port Said on 7 July. In the 1970s, asbestos was recognized as a major health hazard. Asbestos could be found in almost any part of the ships: in pipe lagging to insulate pipes, electrical wiring, and even in roofing and flooring tiles. In 1955, the SS John Stagg was sold to the Takivapor Compagnia Tonnage, Liberia, and rebuild as a dry cargo ship. Six years later, the ship was sold to Hellenic Shipping & Industries Co and reflagged to Greece. In 1963, she reverted to the Liberian flag and served until 1968, when she was scrapped in Hirao, Japan.
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