The human cost of the government's chaotic maritime policies is perhaps best illustrated by the long, troubled history of the World War II-era class of T-2 tankers to which the Marine Electric belonged.

While other countries retired their fleet of T-2's in the 60's, the United States converted - "Jumboized" - the ships in order to carry more cargo.

The first warning that all was not right with the T-2s came Jan.16, 1943. At 3 p.m., the War Shipping Administration accepted a T-2 called the Schenectady after she completed her sea trials.

At 10:30 that night, without explanation, while tied up at the dock, in calm water and weather, the Schenectady simply broke in half.

Four months later, while leaving New York harbor, another T-2 - the Esso Manhattan - also split in two.

Those two sinkings marked the beginning of a long period of analysis of the T-2s and unsuccessful efforts to correct their problems.

Some theorized that "locked-in stresses" caused the sinkings. That theory was disproved. Then crack-arrestors were installed. But the T-2s continued to fall apart.

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