Alaska Transportation Company
| Industry | Transportation and shipping |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1898 in Seattle, Washington |
| Defunct | 1948 |
Key people |
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Alaska Transportation Company was established on April 5, 1898, in Seattle, Washington by Andrew F. Burleigh (1846–1907) and George W. Dickinson to exploit opportunities arising from the Klondike Gold Rush near Dawson City and Nome. The enterprise secured funding through the issuance of shares aimed at constructing vessels for navigation along the Yukon River, departing from ports within Puget Sound. The Moran Brothers Company of Seattle was awarded the contract to build a fleet of nine steamships. The company’s main offices were situated at Pier 58 in Seattle.
Both founders brought legal expertise from their work with the Northern Pacific Railway. Andrew F. Burleigh had previously collaborated with attorneys James B. Metcalfe and Charles W. Turner. Among the company’s early personnel was Captain James Griffiths, who later went on to create his own firm, James Griffiths & Sons, Inc.
In 1896, Burleigh also initiated the Yukon Company to operate vessels on the Yukon River. His initial plan focused on facilitating gold rush transportation from Kusawa Lake via the Takhini and Yukon Rivers to Dawson City; however, by the time these ships became operational, the peak of the gold rush had already diminished. Nevertheless, Alaska Transportation Company maintained services for passengers, mail, and freight to various Alaskan destinations.
Following World War II, the company did not upgrade its fleet by acquiring surplus vessels and encountered increasing rivalry from transportation via the Alaska Highway after its inauguration in 1942. This led to the company's closure in 1948.
World War II
During World War II, Alaska Transportation Company's fleet contributed to the war effort by operating merchant ships under contract with the United States Shipping Board. The company participated in charter shipping agreements managed by the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration, overseeing Liberty and Victory ships for the U.S. merchant marine. These vessels were staffed by Alaska Transportation crews and equipped with U.S. Navy Armed Guards for defense.
Ships
Significant vessels owned by the company included:
- Minneapolis (constructed in 1898), sold in 1900, later requisitioned by British forces and sunk by SM U-35 in 1916.
- Willamette, initially serving as a collier for Oregon Improvement Company (1897–1903), subsequently sold and renamed SS Montana; it ran aground near Nova Scotia in 1920.
- Mary F. Graff (built in 1898 by Moran Brothers), named in honor of Mary F. Burleigh.
- Oritani (built in 1921), sold in 1939 and renamed USS Midway (AG-41) in 1942.
- Wapama (built in 1915), later renamed Tongass; operated routes serving Alaskan ports transporting passengers, cargo, and mail between 1937 and 1948.
- Two additional ships of approximately 5,000 tons constructed by John Roach & Sons.
- Liberty ships operated during World War II:**
- Hall J. Kelley
- Henry L. Abbott (lost during a typhoon near Hong Kong in 1949)
- Henry M. Stephens
- William Peffer
- George W. Alther
- David F. Barry
- Victory ships operated:**
- Dartmouth Victory
- SS Union Victory
Other vessels included Type C1 cargo ships and MV Kenneth E. Gruennert.