Empire State Mariner was laid down as a Type C4 / Mariner-class high speed cargo ship 15 September 1952 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey; launched as Empire State Mariner 15 August 1953; sponsored by Mrs. Samuel C. Waugh; and delivered to the Maritime Administration and the United States Lines for operation under General Agency Agreement 24 February 1954.

Empire State Mariner, Capt.
V. R. Arkin, Master, made three voyages for Military Sea Transportation Service.
The first two took her to Bremerhaven and Liverpool.
The third, commencing in May 1954, took her along both the east and west coasts, as well as to the Panama Canal Zone, Guam, Korea, and Japan.
She returned to Mobile, Alabama in September 1954, and entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet 9 November 1954.

Empire State Mariner transferred to the Navy 10 September 1956 with three other Mariner class ships.
Empire State Mariner was laid down as a Type C4 / Mariner-class high speed cargo ship 15 September 1952 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey; launched as Empire State Mariner 15 August 1953; sponsored by Mrs. Samuel C. Waugh; and delivered to the Maritime Administration and the United States Lines for operation under General Agency Agreement 24 February 1954.
Empire State Mariner, Capt. V. R. Arkin, Master, made three voyages for Military Sea Transportation Service. The first two took her to Bremerhaven and Liverpool. The third, commencing in May 1954, took her along both the east and west coasts, as well as to the Panama Canal Zone, Guam, Korea, and Japan. She returned to Mobile, Alabama in September 1954, and entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet 9 November 1954.
Empire State Mariner transferred to the Navy 10 September 1956 with three other Mariner class ships.
USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23)