| General Steamship Company – Gensteam | |
| Type: | Private |
| Key People: |
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| Foundation: | 1920 |
| Revenue Year: | $48 Million |
| Num Employees: | 206 employees |
| Hq Location City: | Mill Valley, California |
| Location: | Houston – San Francisco, California |
| Industry: | Maritime transport |
| Services: | Passenger and Cargo Liners |
| Area Served: | North America |
General Steamship Company was founded in 1920 in Houston, Texas, as a Private Company, and now goes by Gensteam since 1996.[1] General Steamship Company has a fleet of cargo ships that operate worldwide. Gensteam has a Gensteam Operations Desk website that tracks all shipping logistics. Gensteam headquarters is now in San Francisco, California. General Steamship Company was part owner of American Pacific Steamship Company in New York state and Los Angeles during and post World War II. American Pacific Steamship Company was founded in 1942 in New York City, and was previously called Los Angeles Tanker Operators Inc. which operated T2 tanker ships. During World War II the General Steamship Company and American Pacific Steamship Company were active with charter shipping with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.[2] [3] [4] [5]
Gensteams is a ship agency service, ships dry dockings, military, offshore, and handles distressed vessels.
General Steamship Company was founded by Captain John Barneson, Harry S. Scott, Captain Harry Birkholm, Clarence Belknap and others. Harry H. Scott became the President till 1953. In the 1920s they opened routes to the US West Coast, Far East, South Pacific Ocean, Europe, and Central America and South America. The company survived the Great Depression. Durning World War II General Steamship Company operated ships for the U.S. Government, British Ministry of War Transport, the Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission, and Canadian military For U.S. Government General Steamship Company operated 51 T-2 type tanker vessels and a total of 175 ships.[12]
Los Angeles Tanker Operators, Inc. was founded in Los Angeles, California on July 8, 1943 by Harry H. Birkholm, Morgan Adams, A. P. Scott, Eugene Overton, W. Bruce Bryant, Leander K. Vermille, and Edward D. Lyman. Birkholm was president. W. Bruce Bryant became the district manager for General Steamship Company in 1942.[13] Los Angeles Tanker Operators, Inc. operated a fleet of T2 tankers, type T2-SE-A2.
thumb|Liberty ship of World War IILos Angeles Tanker Operators' fleet of ships were used to help the World War II effort. During World War II Los Angeles Tanker Operators Merchant navy ships for the United States Shipping Board. During World War II Los Angeles Tanker Operators was active with charter shipping with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. OLos Angeles Tanker Operators operated Liberty ships tankers for the merchant navy. The ship was run by its Los Angeles Tanker Operatorsy crew and the US Navy supplied United States Navy Armed Guards to man the deck guns and radio.[14] [15] [16]
thumb|right|World War II Victory shipthumb|right|World War II Liberty shipGeneral Steamship Company ships owned or charted ships:
American Pacific Steamship Company was founded in July 1943 as Los Angeles Tanker Operators, Inc. to support the World War II effort. On April 22, 1946 Los Angeles Tanker Operators, Inc. changed its name to American Pacific Steamship Company as the line began to operate dry cargo ships also.[27]
American Pacific Steamship Company Ships owned or charted ships:
Ships of the Los Angeles Tanker Operators Inc.: