Parry Navigation Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, Maritime transport |
| Founded | 1942 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Alfred Walter Parry Jr. |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, South Pacific, West Coast US to Manila, Shanghai, Hong Kong, North China, Galveston Texas |
Key people | Alfred Walter Parry Jr. (Founder), Charles W. Perkes (Operations Manager) |
| Products | Merchant vessel operations (Liberty ships, Victory ships) |
Parry Navigation Company was established in 1942 by Alfred Walter Parry Jr. in New York City. Parry Jr. began his professional journey as a ship broker at Smith & Terry Inc. and later held the position of office manager for the Interocean Steamship Company based in New Orleans. His father, Alfred Walter Parry Sr., worked as an agent for a railroad company. Throughout World War II, the firm operated vessels while Parry Jr. served as a Colonel in the United States Army, collaborating with the US Army Transportation Corps across the South Pacific theater.
In 1945, the company broadened its reach by inaugurating an office in San Francisco. Two years later, in 1947, it introduced the Parry Line, which connected the West Coast of the United States with destinations such as Manila, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and regions in North China, also including stops at Galveston, Texas. Alfred Parry Jr. held the role of vice president at Lykes Brothers Steamship Company for a number of years. His military contributions earned him honors including the Legion of Merit and the World War II Victory Medal. Operational management at Parry Navigation was overseen by Charles W. Perkes, who previously worked with the Dollar Line.
World War II
During the conflict of World War II, Parry Navigation managed merchant vessels under contracts with both the Maritime Commission and the War Shipping Administration. The company’s fleet featured both Liberty ships and Victory ships, crewed by company personnel, while Armed Guard units from the US Navy were assigned to operate deck weaponry and communications equipment. This collaboration supported critical logistical operations for the United States Merchant Navy during wartime.
Liberty ships operated
- SS R. Walton Moore
- SS Royal S. Copeland
- SS Johan Printz
- John H. Eaton
- Mary Pickersgill
- Clark Howell
- L. H. McNelly
- SS Harold A. Jordan
- SS William P. Duval
Victory ships operated
- Laconia Victory
- Newberry Victory
- SS Boulder Victory