Burns Steamship Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, Maritime transport |
| Founded | February 25, 1936 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Leroy Burns |
| Defunct | 1956 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Leroy Burns (founder) |
| Products | Merchant shipping services, cargo transport |
Burns Steamship Company was established on February 25, 1936, in Los Angeles, California, by Leroy Burns. The firm maintained its presence with offices located in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Initially engaged in the lumber industry in Ohio during 1937, Burns later moved to San Francisco, where he purchased the vessel USS Besboro, subsequently renamed Lurline Burns. In 1940, the company relocated its main office to Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. The SS Lurline Burns was later commissioned for service during World War II. Operations of the company concluded in 1956.
World War II
Throughout World War II, Burns Steamship Company managed a fleet that supported the United States' military efforts. The company operated merchant vessels under charter contracts with agencies such as the United States Shipping Board, Maritime Commission, and War Shipping Administration. It ran Liberty and Victory class ships as part of the U.S. Merchant Navy, with crews provided by Burns Steamship Company and defensive armaments operated by U.S. Navy Armed Guards.
Ships
- USS Besboro (renamed Lurline Burns)
- Palmyra – a 1,381-ton cargo vessel constructed in 1880; previously known under various names including Genoa, Naples Trieste, Patras, Corfu, and originally Gibraltar.
- Victory Ships:
- Calvin Victory
- Roswell Victory
- Rutgers Victory
- Liberty Ships operated:
- SS Carl E. Ladd
- Queens Victory
- Horatio Allen
- John L. Stoddard