United States Lines (USL)

United States Lines (USL) entered the container trades in March 1966, when the AMERICAN RACER launched the first scheduled container service across the Atlantic together with four other converted 13,300 dwt C-4 cargo ships, each of which could carry about 150 TEU. 

USL received eight AMERICAN LANCER-class 1,210 teu containerships in 1968-71 which were deployed on its Transpacific services. It also acquired a series of eight C-4 cargo ships which were lengthened and converted into 1,027 teu containerships in 1970-71 for deployment on the Transatlantic. See link.

Walter Kiddie & Co. acquired USL in January 1969 and gradually disposed of its remaining passenger liner services.

In October 1969, Sea-Land announced a deal to lease USL's 16 containerships for $61 M a year for 20 years. The deal would have made Sea-Land the largest carrier on both the Atlantic and the Pacific, and came under strong opposition from other US flagged carriers. The deal was called off in November 1970. Sea-Land then tried to take over USL and operate it as a stand-alone entity. Although the deal was approved by the FMC in January 1973, it was thwarted by antitrust concerns.

In April 1977, Malcolm McLean acquired USL for $160 M, of which $50 M went to pay off debts. By 1985, USL controlled the largest containership fleet in the world after acquiring two competitors (Moore McCormick Lines and Delta Steamship Lines) in 1982 and taking delivery of 12 newly built 4,234 teu Econships in 1984-85. 

However, just as the new Econships were delivered, freight rates fell and USL suspended all services and filed for bankruptcy on 24 November 1986. Most of its vessels were sold to Sea-Land in the reorganization plan filed on 5 July 1988. The company was formally liquidated by 1992.

The USL name was revived briefly in 2000 and 2001, as a brand name of American Classic Voyages but in October 2001, the company filed for bankruptcy. 

In May 2003, the USL name was restarted by Ed Aldridge. USL launched a China-LA service using five ships of 1,300-1,600 teu in December 2003. It teamed up with Great Western and Maruba to form the 'Americas Alliance'  in February 2005 to operate on the transpacific with five 1,600-2,200 teu ships but the partnership was terminated in January 2006 after Great Western ceased trading. USL continued to serve the transpacific trade on its own with 1,100 teu ships and slots from other carriers before launching a new ANZL service to offer FE-US-ANZ-FE services. In August 2006, ANL joined the service which employed eight ships of 1,100-1,350 teu, seven of which chartered by USL and one by ANL.

USL was finally acquired by CMA CGM in December 2007.