Construction and earlier career
El Faro was built by the Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation in Chester, Pennsylvania,
in 1975 as Puerto Rico.[1] In 1991, the ship was renamed Northern Lights; two years later, it was
lengthened by 90 feet (27 m) at Alabama Shipyard, Inc.[1]
Originally operated by the Navieras de Puerto Rico Steamship Company, the Puerto Rico
hauled cargo to and from the U.S. East Coast for more than two decades.[citation needed] The
vessel was purchased by TOTE Maritime in Tacoma, Washington, renamed Northern Lights, and
placed in service between Tacoma and Anchorage, Alaska.[citation needed] Northern Lights
continued to steam between these two ports until the early 2000s, when the ship was chartered to the
Military Sealift Command of the United States Navy.[citation needed] The ship was later transferred by TOTE to
its subsidiary company Sea Star Lines and renamed El Faro. It then returned to coastwise liner
service between Jacksonville, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.[citation needed]
"El Faro was built by the Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation in Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1975 as Puerto Rico.[1] In 1991, the ship was renamed Northern Lights; two years later, it was lengthened by 90 feet (27 m) at Alabama Shipyard, Inc.[1]"