West India Steamship Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, Maritime transport |
| Founded | 1910 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Edward R. Bacon, Robert Bacon, Daniel Bacon |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Passenger and freight steamship services |
West India Steamship Company was established in New York City in 1910 by Edward R. Bacon, Robert Bacon, and Daniel Bacon as a steamship enterprise specializing in both passenger and freight services. Edward R. Bacon practiced law, while Daniel Bacon worked as a ship broker; all three founders had prior experience with the Barnes Steamship Company. They launched the West India Steamship Line, which by 1913 had developed cargo routes linking New York City and Norfolk, Virginia, with destinations such as Cuba, Mexico, Colón (Panama), and the Windward Islands. By 1921, the company had further extended its service network from Mobile, Alabama, to multiple ports throughout the West Indies. The West India Steamship Company also contributed to logistical efforts during World War II.
World War II
Throughout the Second World War, West India Steamship Company operated merchant vessels under contracts with the United States Shipping Board, Maritime Commission, and War Shipping Administration. The firm managed Liberty and Victory ships as part of the U.S. Merchant Navy fleet, providing civilian crews to operate these vessels while U.S. Navy Armed Guards were responsible for manning deck weaponry and communications equipment. This partnership established West India Steamship Company as an important entity in wartime maritime transportation and supply operations.
Ships
The company’s owned fleet included:
- Tymouth Castle
- Duart Castle
- USS Resolute (SP-3218) (service period: 1920–1926)
- SS Polar Land (constructed in 1918; lost near Sable Island in 1919)
- SS Lake Frampton
During World War II, their operated vessels comprised:
- Liberty Ships:**
- George A. Lawson
- Martin Van Buren (torpedoed on January 14, 1945 by German submarine U-1232 near Halifax, Nova Scotia, subsequently beached and dismantled)
- Edward R. Squibb
- Willard R. Johnson
- SS Frederick Bartholdi (grounded on December 25, 1943 at Isle of Skye, later salvaged and scrapped)
- Additional ships:**
- New Rochelle Victory
- USS Lebanon (AK-191) (1945), a C1-M-AV1 class cargo vessel