An old hull is reborn
The YMS minesweepers were built in large numbers during World War II by the United States Navy and the navies of its allies. The small ships, just over 40 meters in length, served as minesweepers and in other roles on all the world’s seas.
Most of the hundreds of ships survived the war and were often sold to civilian shipping. As inexpensive and seaworthy ships, they explored and fished all over the world. Some of them achieved worldwide fame, such as the famous “Calypso” of the marine explorer and environmental activist Jaques Yves Cousteau. Another became the yacht of actor John Wayne and still exists today.
The YMS hull has elegant lines and is a handy, well-proportioned vessel. It has the potential for a speed of up to 16 knots and is surprisingly stable in high waves. However, wood is no longer a suitable material for ships of this size. Therefore, the hull is currently being remade so that it can be built in steel or aluminum.