C8-S-81b-class LASH carrier

The C8-S-81b was the Maritime Administration design for a class of eleven LASH (lighter aboard ship) barge carriers built by Avondale Shipyard at Westwego, Louisiana, between 1970 and 1973. Following the first LASH vessels Acadia Forest and Atlantic Forest, the ships were of identical design and carried loaded river barges that were lifted aboard over the stern. They were built for two American lines, Prudential Grace Line of New York, whose ships bore names such as Lash Italia, Lash Turkiye and Lash Espana, and Pacific Far East Line of San Francisco, whose ships included Pacific Bear and Japan Bear. At about 29,820 deadweight tons each, they were the second generation of LASH carriers and belong to the wider Type C8 family of barge carriers, whose other members were built at Fore River and Sparrows Point.