[1] The ship is named after First Lieutenant Harry L. Martin, an American Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.

The ship was built in 1979 at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts.

On 1 August 1986, the Pacific Direct Line owned car carrier MV Lilllooet entered Sydney Harbour.

[3] In 1993, Norwegian America Line acquired the ship and was renamed NOSAC Cedar until 1994.

On 26 September 2013, the ship collided with the Mathews Bridge, Jacksonville while being towed to North Florida Shipyards at about 2 p.m.[8] Florida Department of Transportation filed a lawsuit against the towing company after the collision costed $4 million in damage.