The Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS) established the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) program in 1969 to document historic sites and structures, which includes ships. The HAER program is distinct from NPS‘s Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) program, and since its inception has highlighted historic examples of industrial design.

The Maritime Administration has worked with NPS’s HAER program to document historic vessels prior to their disposal. NPS has completed the following HAER surveys for the Maritime Administration:

• SS American Racer
• SS Arthur M. Huddell
• USS Bolster
• SS Chesapeake
• USNS Comet (T-AKR-7)
• TS Empire State V
• USS Gage (APA-168)
• USNS General Edwin D. Patrick (AP-124)
• USNS General John Pope (AP-110)
• SS Gettysburg
• USCGC Glacier (WAGB-4)
• USS Hoist (ARS-40)
• USS Mispillion (AO-105)
• USNS Mission Santa Ynez (AO-134)
• TS Patriot State
• USNS Potomac (T-AOT-181)
• SS Private Frederick C. Murphy (Maritime Victory)
• SS Sagamore
• SS Saugatuck
• SS Seatrain Ohio
• USS Sperry (AS-12)
• USS Sphinx (ARL-24)
• USNS Taluga (AO-62)
• USS Vulcan (AR-5)
• USS Wichita (AOR-1)
• SS Winthrop Victory
• US Navy Oilers and Tankers