The lead ship of her class, she was originally laid down 1 June 1968 at Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi as SS Mormacsun, ON 524416, IMO 6924571, a Maritime Commission type (C5-S-78) combination breakbulk, container, Ro-Ro vessel under Maritime Administration contract (MA 224) for Moore-McCormack Lines.

Launched 1 July 1969, she was delivered to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) 1 February 1970 and subsequently sold and renamed SS Young America on 19 October 1970 for service with American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines.

In December 2002, Wright departed from Baltimore, Maryland and in January ported in Morehead City, North Carolina.

[2] In November 2012 Wright was mobilized to support relief operations after Hurricane Sandy caused damage to the New York/New Jersey region.

The ship shared a dock near the St George ferry on Staten Island, NY with the USTS Kennedy which served as lodging for FEMA staff and contractors.