Polarus Steamship Company
| Industry | Shipping |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1918 in New York City, United States |
Key people |
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Polarus Steamship Company originated in 1918 and was reestablished in 1923 in New York City by its founder Tikhon Nicholas Agapeyeff (1891–1931). The initial enterprise, founded in 1918, operated for roughly two years before Agapeyeff transferred ownership to the C. M. Fetterolf Company in 1921 for $250,000. The 1923 incorporation introduced a partnership that included Agapeyeff, lawyer Marcel Levy, and exporter Charles S. Dunaif.
Agapeyeff, born in Russia in 1891, previously served as an officer in the Russian Imperial Navy. After escaping the turmoil of the 1917 Russian Revolution, he settled in New York City and contributed to the U.S. war effort during World War I by working at a Navy Ordnance Depot. Following the war, he transitioned into ship brokerage and led the first iteration of Polarus as president, with Carlos M. Fetterolf acting as vice president. In 1921, Agapeyeff sold this original company to the C. M. Fetterolf Company.
Within the 1923 Polarus Steamship Company framework, Hendrik Robert Jolles assumed the presidency while Charles S. Dunaif took on the role of vice president. That same year, Agapeyeff became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He passed away in 1931 during a vacation in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In addition to his maritime ventures, Agapeyeff managed the Sonora Timber Company for ten years, which specialized in harvesting and exporting pulpwood from Sonora, Nova Scotia to American markets—highlighting his diverse business interests.
World War II
Throughout World War II, Polarus Steamship Company played a vital role by operating merchant vessels under charter agreements with the U.S. Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. The firm managed Liberty and Victory ships as part of the United States Merchant Navy fleet. While Polarus personnel handled vessel operations, U.S. Navy Armed Guards were responsible for deck armaments and communications systems, underscoring the company's significant contribution to wartime maritime logistics.
Ships
- Post-war Liberty vessels acquired as war surplus:
- SS Coastal Ringleader (formerly USS Lancaster AK-193)
- Michael J. Owens
- William D. Bloxham, obtained in 1969 and renamed Mitera Irini
- Telfair Stockton, acquired in 1956 and renamed Transporter
- Patrick B. Whalen, purchased in 1953 and renamed Charles C. Dunaif
- Joseph I. Kemp, taken over in 1956 and renamed Adolph Sperling
- Jasper F. Cropsey, acquired in 1949 and renamed Oceanic
- John M. Morehead, obtained in 1949 and renamed Polarus Sailor
- William R. Lewis, purchased in 1950 and renamed Polaruse Carrier
- Lafcadio Hearn, obtained in 1948 and renamed Polarussoil
- Francis A. Retka, acquired in 1956 and renamed I. R. Lashings
- Additional significant vessels:
- SS Franklin Berwis (formerly USS New Hanover AKA-73)
- SS Coastal Guide (formerly USNS Sgt. George Peterson T-AK-248)
- Liberty ships operated during WWII included:
- Charles H. Marshall, Michael de Kovats, Pierre L'Enfant, Waigstill Avery, William D. Bloxham, Charles A. Draper, Ora Ellis, Patrick B. Whalen, Earl Layman, Charles G. Coutant, Joseph B. Eastman, John McDonogh, Raymond V. Ingersoll, Augustin Stahl, and James B. Hickok.
- Victory ships operated:
- Fayetteville Victory
- Parkersburg Victory