North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, Maritime transport |
| Founded | February 13, 1932 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | George V. Reilly, William M. Stevens, David H. Jackman |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Charles Walter Ulsh (President), Clifton Waller Barrett (Treasurer and Vice President) |
| Products | Merchant shipping services, operated Liberty and Victory ships during World War II |
North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Company was established in New York City on February 13, 1932, by founders George V. Reilly, William M. Stevens, and David H. Jackman. In the same year, Charles Walter Ulsh held the position of president, while Clifton Waller Barrett served as both treasurer and vice president. Ulsh and Barrett were also the founders of the ship brokerage firm Ulsh & Barrett. Notably, Ulsh secured a patent for a skid platform pallet (US patent #US1934389A), engineered for efficient stacking and nesting during shipping.
SS Lake Furnas
The SS Lake Furnas, originally built in 1920 and previously named SS Providence, was purchased by North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Company from Merchants and Miners Transportation Company in 1941 and subsequently renamed SS Norindies. On March 26, 1942, the War Shipping Administration assumed control of the vessel but chartered it back to North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Company, which operated the ship until August 3, 1943, when the Administration acquired it outright.
World War II
Throughout World War II, North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Company supported the war effort by managing merchant vessels under the authority of the United States Shipping Board. The company operated both Liberty and Victory ships within the merchant navy fleet; crews were supplied by North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Company while US Navy Armed Guards manned the deck guns. The organization collaborated with J. H. Winchester & Company in charter shipping operations under contracts governed by the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.
Ships
- Liberty ships managed:**
- Spetsae
- Stage Door Canteen
- Joseph I. Kemp
- SS Isaac Mayer Wise
- Rebecca Boone
- William R. Lewis
- Penelope Barker – sunk by torpedo attack from U-271 in the Barents Sea
- John M. Brooke
- Johns Hopkins
- Frank Dale (Type N3-S vessel)
- Victory ships managed:**
- Rollins Victory
- Mahanoy City Victory
- Waterbury Victory
- Additional vessels:**
- Norlandia (constructed in 1919)