Seas Shipping Company Explained
Seas Shipping Company Robin Line |
Fate: | sold to Moore-McCormack |
Foundation: | 1920 |
Defunct: | 1957 |
Founder: | Farrell family and Lewis family |
Location: | New York City, New York |
Successor: | Moore-McCormack |
Seas Shipping Company, owner of the Robin Line was founded in 1920 in New York City, New York. The Robin Line named all its ships starting with the word Robin. Robin Line was intercoastal fleet started as the predecessor of the Farrell Lines founded in 1948. James A. Farrell, Jr., and John J. Farrell, sons of James Augustine Farrell, president of US Steel founded the Robin Line.[1] [2] [3] Robin Line had two major stock holders the Lewis family and the Farrell family. In 1933, the two families ended their partnership and became rivals. The Robin line entered the Africa trade routes, competing against the Farrell Line. The two companies remained rivals until the death of Arthur W. Lewis, Jr. in 1954. Robin Line was sold to Moore-McCormack Lines in 1957.[4] [5]
During World War II Seas Shipping Company was active in charter shipping with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.
- Robin Line ports: New York, Walvis Bay, Luderitz, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Lourenço Marques, Beira, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar, Mombasa, Tamatave, Majunga, other Madagascar ports, and Mauritius.[6]
World War II
Seas Shipping Company ships were used to help the World War II effort. During World War II Seas Shipping Company operated Merchant navy ships for the United States Shipping Board. During World War II Sword Line, Inc. was active with charter shipping with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. Seas Shipping Company operated Liberty ships and Victory ships for the merchant navy. The ship was run by its Seas Shipping Company crew and the US Navy supplied United States Navy Armed Guards to man the deck guns and radio.[7] [8] [9]
Ships
thumb|Liberty ship of World War II
- SS Robin Tuxford
- SS Robin Doncaster
- SS Robin Kettering
- SS Robin Sherwood
- SS Robin Mowbray
- SS Robin Goodfellow [12]
- SS Robin Hood
- SS Robin Trent
- SS Robin Kirk
- SS Robin Gray, scuttled in 1944 to make Omaha Beach breakwater.[13]
- SS Robin Moor
- (owned 1947 to 1957)
World war II ships
Victory ships
Liberty ships
Other
- SS Empire Lynx, torpedoed November 3, 1942, sank by while with Convoy SC 107.
- SS West Chetac, torpedoed and sunk September 24, 1942 by U-175[15]
- SS West Imboden, torpedoed and sunk April 21, 1942 by U-752[16]
See also
Notes and References
- News: James Farrell, Former Head of U.S. Steel Dies . . March 29, 1943 . 2016-07-05 .
- News: J. A. Farrell Dies. U.S. Steel Ex-Head. Laborer at 15. President for 21 Years of World's Largest Industrial Concern. Dean of 'Foreign Trade'. Broke All Shipments Records. Urged Economic Front With Britain to Insure Peace. . March 29, 1943 . 2016-07-05 .
- News: John Farrell, 75, Of Ship Line Dies. His Fleet Helped to Develop U.S. Trade With Africa . . April 23, 1966 .
- Web site: House Flags of U.S. Shipping Companies: R. Crwflags.com.
- Web site: STABILIZATION DUE IN S. AFRICAN TRADE; Shipping Company Head Sees Currency Preference End Aiding Our Vessels. 25 June 1949. 29 June 2022. The New York Times.
- Web site: Robin Line - Moore-McCormack Lines. Timetableimages.com.
- Web site: Sea Lane Vigilantes. www.armed-guard.com.
- World War II U.S. Navy Armed Guard and World War II U.S. Merchant Marine, 2007-2014 Project Liberty Ship, Project Liberty Ship, P.O. Box 25846 Highlandtown Station, Baltimore, MD https://www.armed-guard.com/about-ag.html#:~:text=There%20were%20three%20basic%20training,California%3B%20and%20Gulfport%2C%20Mississippi.
- Web site: Steamship Company Operators of American Flag Ships during World War II. www.usmm.org.
- Web site: ROBIN LOCKSLEY. Vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov.
- Web site: Robin Locksley. Moore-mccormack.com.
- Web site: ROBIN GOODFELLOW. Vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov.
- https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?139838 SS Robin Gray (Blockship 381) (+1944), =Wrecksite.eu,2022-06-29
- Capt. Walter W. Jaffee The Liberty Ships from A to Z. Glencannon Print, 2004,
- Web site: uboat.net. West Chetac. 5 April 2023.
- Web site: uboat.net. West Imboden. 5 April 2023.