Ore Steamship Company
| Company type | Subsidiaries |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, Transportation |
| Founded | 1927 in New York City, United States |
Area served | Atlantic coast of the United States, Orinoco River (Venezuela) |
| Products | Transport of iron ore and steel products |
| Parent | Bethlehem Steel Company |
Ore Steamship Company and Ore Navigation Corporation operated as subsidiaries under the Bethlehem Steel Company, both founded in New York City in 1927. Their primary mission was to facilitate the movement of iron ore and steel products, thereby supporting Bethlehem Steel's manufacturing processes. These companies transported raw materials to steel mills situated along the Atlantic coast of the United States and distributed finished steel products to Bethlehem Shipyard facilities. A crucial logistics center was the Port of Baltimore, which featured a 2,200-foot pier designed to handle loading and unloading operations for three large cargo vessels, each with a capacity of 28,000 tons, simultaneously.
- Significant vessels operated by Ore Steamship Company included:*
- SS Texar (previously named Harold O. Wilson)
- SS Bethflor, a vessel specialized in carrying steel cargo
- Lagonda (built in 1896)
- Cambria
- SS William H. Donner (constructed in 1914)
- ELBA
- Chilore
- Cubore
- Fletmore
- Marore
- Oremore
- Santmor
- Steelmore
- Venmore, manufactured at Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, measured 583 feet in length and 78 feet in beam, powered by steam turbines capable of reaching speeds up to 16 knots; dismantled in Santander, Spain in 1970 alongside seven sister ships
- E.H. Utley, built around 1910 by Detroit Shipbuilding Co.
- Bethcoal No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, hopper barges constructed in 1962
- Punta Aramaya, produced at Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard with dimensions of 381 feet by 64 feet; operated on Venezuela’s Orinoco River by Iron Mines Company alongside four sister vessels
- Tugboat:**
- Tunism, constructed by St. Louis Shipbuilding and Steel Company; decommissioned and scrapped in 1960
Through these fleets, Bethlehem Steel effectively managed its iron ore transportation logistics, ensuring streamlined support for its steel manufacturing and shipbuilding operations.