| S.S. Universe Commander, one of a class of 85,000 deadweight ton tankers operated by Universe Tankships, a subsidiary of National Bulk Carriers. |
S.S. Universe Leader was built by National Bulk Carriers, Kure Shipbuilding Division, Kure, Japan in 1956. The seven ships of this class again were the first of that size launched. They were indicative of the larger tankers that Ludwig continued to have designed and built. Much more pleasing to the eye, they had more graceful lines and abandoned the traditional Ludwig skinny smokestack. But true to form, they had no significant mast, a low after deckhouse and a fairly spartan and utilitarian navigation bridge, as Ludwig seldom put anything on his tankers that couldn't carry oil.
| Ship | Hull# | Built | GRT | DWT | Length | Beam | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universe Leader | 39 | 1956 | 51,400 | 85,515 | 854'9" | 125'3" | Another record setting large tanker. |
| Universe Commander | 40 | 1957 | 51,398 | 85,618 | 854'9" | 125'3" | |
| Universe Challenger | 46 | 1957 | 51,321 | 85,596 | 854'9" | 125'3" | Renamed Frisia 1960. |
| Universe Admiral | 59 | 1957 | 51,320 | 85,564 | 854'9" | 125'3" | |
| Harold H. Helm | 63 | 1958 | 51,320 | 85,592 | 854'9" | 125'3" | |
| George Champion | 64 | 1958 | 51,320 | 85,539 | 854'9" | 125'3" | |
| Universe Defiance | 65 | 1958 | 51,320 | 85,548 | 854'9" | 125'3" |
Created by A. Davis Whittaker, Jr.