The new standards were promptly tested by Daniel K. Ludwig’s American Hawaiian Steamship Company, which wanted to build a ship carrying 30-foot-long containers. The Federal Maritime Board would not approve federal mortgage insurance for a ship fitted for nonstandard containers, so American Hawaiian asked the committee to declare 30-foot containers “standard.” The committee rejected the request 3 to 2, with Marad once more casting the deciding vote. Federal aid was not forthcoming, and the ship was never built.
