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The Fleets
Alaska Steamship
Company,
Seattle, 1895-1971
Regular monthly boat service from U.S. ports to Alaska
began in 1867 following the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Occupation
troops were dispatched and cargo and mail soon followed. By 1875 several
ship lines were making the voyage up the Panhandle in spite of often
inhospitable waters and a treacherous coastline. The first tourists began
booking
passage as reports of unparalleled scenery were increasingly publicized.
On August 3, 1894, Charles Peabody, Capt. George Roberts, Capt. Melville
Nichols, George Lent, Frank E. Burns and Walter Oakes formed the Alaska
Steamship Company which would eventually enjoy a near monopoly of freight
and passenger service to Alaska..
This group of six men began gathering $30,000 by selling 300 shares of
stock, at $100 each. Charles Peabody was named president of the company.
On Jan. 21, 1895, the Alaska Steamship Company was finalized. The first
vessel purchased was the 140-foot steamer WILLAPA.
Sustaining the company's growth was the completion of a railroad into
the interior, encouraging mining activity for precious metals that brought
both fortune-seekers and tourists. By 1905, activity shifted from the
Juneau/Skagway area to Valdez/Cordova, then eventually to Nome, where
Alaska Steamship was ready to capitalize on the bonanza by switching
its ships accordingly. At the end of 1897, Charles Peabody reorganized
the Alaska Steamship Co. and his fleet expanded rapidly as the Klondike
gold stampede mounted. In 1898 the stockholders formed the Puget Sound
Navigation Co. as an inland water subsidiary. That new company was registered
in Nevada where
corporate laws were more lenient. The Puget Sound routes were a natural
place for the company to recycle some of its smaller original vessels
as they became obsolete for the strenuous Alaska runs.
As the turn of the century was approaching, several events were causing
tremendous increases in Southeast Alaskan marine travel: religious missions
were being established, fish canneries were being built and gold had
been discovered. The Inside Passage was a major route to overland staging
areas for the gold fields.
In 1902, Peabody and his associates initiated through Puget Sound Navigation
Co. a Port Townsend and Port Angeles to Victoria steamship route for
both freight and passengers. Pacific Steamship Co. was caught napping
as they had committed all their ships to the Klondike run, which was
still running as the gold rush slowly subsided. The other possible competitor,
Canadian Pacific Railway, initially declined to compete on the route,
concentrating instead on their Empress ocean going sleek steamships that
connected with their rail route across the Canadian Rockies and their
Empress Hotels in Victoria and Vancouver.
On May 2, 1903, the Alaska Steamship Co., purchased the controlling
stock of La Conner Trading & Transportation Co. The new concern was
initially named Inland Navigation Co. but as Puget Sound Navigation Co.,
the resulting company would become the biggest inland shipping company
of Puget Sound. Charles Peabody controlled the majority of stock and
he became president of the enlarged company. Soon afterwards, Peabody
became chairman of the board.
In 1909, a group known as the Alaska Syndicate, with funds from J.P.
Morgan and the Guggenheim Company, bought the Alaska Steamship Company
so they could mine copper in the Wrangell Mountains. They merged the
company with the Northwestern Steamship Co. Limited , keeping the
Alaska Steamship Company name. The merger of the two companies just about
gave them a monopoly in the Alaska shipping industry. They expanded the
fleet into 18 ships and expanded service in Alaska from Ketchikan to
Kotzebue.
In 1912 Charles Peabody retired from Alaska Steamship Company and
was replaced by S.W. Eccles of the Guggenheim Company.
In 1915, Kennecott Copper Company was formed and began acquiring stock
from the Alaska Steamship Company.
The
Jones Act, passed by Congress in 1920, helped the Alaska Steamship and
the Pacific Steamship companies. The law prohibited shipping between
any two United States ports in anything but American-built ships. Two
Canadian shipping companies serving Southeast Alaska communities were
forced out of the Alaska market. In the 1930s Alaska Steam purchased
is long time rival, the Pacific Steamship Company. Responding to Alaskans
complaints about irregular service and high rates, Congress passed the
Intercoastal Shipping Act in 1933. It called for definite shipping schedules
and approved, published cargo rates.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Alaska Steamship had a fleet
of 16 vessels operating out of Seattle to Skagway, Seward and Nome. During World War II, the federal government took control of most U.S.
registered ships for the war effort, including the ships of the Alaska
Steamship Company and the company became an agent for the War Administration,
was assigned its own ships and was given sixty others to manage.
It returned to peacetime operations under the ownership of Skinner and
Eddy Corporation, Seattle, which purchased the Alaska Steamship in August
1944 for $4,290,000.
During World War 2 five ships were lost.
After the war, the Alaska shipping industry changed. Only two major
companies, Alaska Steamship Company and Northland Transportation Company
served Alaska, both owned by the Skinner and Eddy Corporation in Washington.
Before the war, 42 ships served Alaska; in 1948 only seven. The change
was due to the end of federal subsidies, rising labour costs, and new
competition from truckers and air carriers. The Alaska Steamship Company
started to use tugs and barges and container ships. Tugs and barges could
travel faster and operated with smaller crews 5 to 7 workers as compared
to 30 to 40 on freighters. Containers could be trucked, lifted on and off, and trucked away, allowing
faster loading.
The first passenger sailing out of Seattle was undertaken by ALASKA
in January 1946. She was subsequently followed by the YUKON, ALEUTIAN,
BARANOF and DENALI. Ports of call northbound were Ketchikan (two days),
Juneau (three days) and Seward (five days), with occasional calls at
Wrangell, Petersburg, Skagway, Sitka, Cordova, Valdez, Kodiak and Seldovia.
Southbound, the steamers called at the same ports they stopped at heading
north. All steamers had accommodation for over 200 passengers ranging
from steerage to a deluxe cabin with private bath. It was during this
period that the company decided to concentrate on tourism.
The Inside Passage to Alaska was a hazardous journey and Alaska Steamship
was no stranger to its perils. On 4 February 1946 at 4 am during a blinding
snowstorm and strong north easterly winds the YUKON ran aground near
Cape Fairfield. Heavy seas prevented the launching of boats until daylight,
by which time rescue vessels arrived to take off the frightened passengers
and crew. Some years later another calamity was the collision of BARANOF with the
Greek steamer Triton on 26 July 1952 near Nanaimo with the loss of two
of the crew of the latter.
Many factors contributed to Alaska Steamship's eventual termination
of passenger service. Firstly, there were continued labour problems caused
by longshoremen, seamen and stewards.
Secondly, the arrival of an air service (partly subsidized by the Government)
to Alaska took away potential passengers and freight bookings and thirdly
was the end of charter privileges and subsidy payments.
The Alaska Steamship Company was facing insurmountable financial difficulties
that even a new fleet of steamers could not remedy. On 6 July 1954 therefore
Mr. D.E. Skinner the president of Alaska Steamship Company announced
that his firm was moving out of the passenger business. The BARANOF was immediately laid up, the ALASKA sailed until August,
the DENALI made the company’s last passenger sailing in September
1954, The ships were then sold off.
The Alaska Steamship Company now concentrated on the carriage of cargo
but declining revenues, rising operation costs forced the Company to
shut down in January 1971.
see also The
Black Ball Line and The Pacific Northwest (off-site)
Many thanks to Henk Jungerius and Ted Finch for their assistance
in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various
sources. This is not an
all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide. If you would like
to know more about a vessel, visit the Ship
Descriptions (onsite) or Immigrant
Ship web site.
Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
Alameda |
1883 |
built by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
| ex- Alameda, 1910 purchased from Oceanic Navigation Company (Matson)
not renamed, 28 November 1931 burned at Seattle pier. |
3,000 |
Alaska (1) |
1889 |
built by John Roach & Son, Chester | ex- Kansas City
built for Ocean Steamship Company of Savannah, 1909 sold to Portland & San
Francisco Steamship Co. not renamed, 1915 sold to Union Iron Works,
San Francisco, resold to Alaska Steamship Company renamed Alaska,
6 August 1921 stranded and sank at Blunt’s Reef, California. |
3,678 |
Alaska (2) |
1923 |
built by Todd Drydock & Construction Co., Seattle
| 1954 sold to Margo Pacific Lines renamed Mazatlan, 1955 scrapped. |
4,515 |
Aleutian (1) |
1898 |
built by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
| ex- Havana built for New York & Cuba Mail Steamship Co., ex- Panama
1905, 1905 purchased from Panama Railroad Steamship Co. renamed Aleutian,
26 May 1929 sank off Kodiak Island. |
5,708 |
Aleutian (2) |
1906 |
built by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
| ex- Mexico, 1929 purchased from Ward Line renamed Aleutian, 1955
sold to Caribbean Atlantic Lines as the tropical cruise liner renamed
Tradewind, 1956 scrapped in Belgium. |
6,361 |
Baranof |
1919 |
built by New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden | ex-
Santa Elisa, 1936 purchased from Grace
Line renamed Baranof, 1955 scrapped. |
4,990 |
Chena |
|
see Chief Washakie. |
|
Chief Washakie |
1942 |
built by Oregon Ship Building
Corp., Portland, Oregon | ex- Chief Washakie Liberty ship type EC-S-C1,
1946 purchased from United States Maritime Commission by Northland
Transportation Co., 1949 purchased by Alaska Steamship Co. not renamed,
1950 renamed Chena, 1953 modified to carry containers, 1971 scrapped
at Kaohsiung. |
7,216 |
Chippewa |
1900 |
built by Craig SB Co., Toledo for Arnold Transit Co.,
Mackinaw, Mich. | 1907 purchased by Alaska SS Co., 1908 transferred
to Puget Sound Nav. Co., 1951 sold to Washington Toll Bridge Authority,
Seattle. 1968 converted to floating restaurant. |
996 |
Columbia |
1906 |
built by New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, New York
| ex- President built for Pacific Coast Steamship Company, 1916 purchased
by Pacific Steamship Company (Admiral Line) renamed Dorothy Alexander,
1926 sold to R. Dollar & Co. not renamed, 1938 sold to Alaska Steamship
Co. renamed Columbia, 1946 sold to Empresa de Navegacio Mercante
SARL renamed Portugal, 1952 scrapped at La Spezia. |
5,270 |
Cordova |
1912 |
built by Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Del.
| 1947 sold to Lee Che Industrial Co., Shanghai renamed Lee Kung.
1949 sold to Wallem & Co., Panama reverted to Cordova.1951 scrapped
at Hong Kong. |
2,273 |
Curacao |
1895 |
built by W. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia for Atlantic & Caribbean
SS Co., Wilmington, Del. | 1934 purchased from Admiral Line, Tacoma,
1940 sold to China Hellenic Lines, Piraeus renamed Hellenic Skipper.
10th Jul.1940 caught fire off Astoria, Wash, taken in tow but sank
on 13th July. |
1,503 |
Denali |
1927 |
built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.,
Newport News | ex- Caracas, 1938 purchased from Atlantic & Caribbean
S.N. Co. (Red D Line) renamed
Denali, 1954 sold to Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Co., Miami
renamed Cuba, 1955 renamed Southern Cross, 1960 scrapped. |
4,302 |
Dirigo |
1898 |
built by P. Mathews, Grays Harbor, Wash. for J. S.
Kimball Co, San Francisco | 1900 purchased by Alaska SS Co. 16th
Nov.1914 sank 100 miles west from Cape Fairweather on voyage Cordova,
Alaska to Seattle. |
843 |
Dolphin |
1892 |
built by Ropner & Son, Stockton as AL. FOSTER for
Al. Foster Steamboat Co., New York. | 1898 renamed THE FOSTER, 1899
renamed Dolphin by Liewer Steamboat Co, New York, 1901 purchased
by Alaska SS Co., 1920 sold to Chile, 1923 to Mexican Navy, converted
to gunboat renamed Plan de Guadelupe. |
824 |
Dora |
1880 |
built by M. Turner, San Francisco for Alaska Commercial
Co., San Francisco | 1908 purchased from Northwestern SS Co., Seattle,
1913 reclassified to 320 tons, 1920 sold to Bering Sea Fisheries
Co., Seattle. 1920 wrecked. |
198 |
Edith |
1882 |
built by J. L. Thompson & Sons, Sunderland | Built
as Glenochil for Glenochil SS Co., Leith, 1901 purchased by A. H.
Bull & Co., New York renamed Edith. 1906 North Western SS Co., Seattle.
1908 Alaska SS Co., Port Angeles, Wash. 30th Aug.1915 abandoned off
Cape Hinchenbrook, Alaska. |
2,424 |
Fortuna |
1944 |
built by Permanente Metals Corporation (Shipbuilding
Division), No.2 Yard, Richmond, California | ex- Samuel L. Cobb Liberty
ship type EC-S-C1, 1946 purchased from United States Maritime Commission
by States Marine Lines renamed Volunteer State, 1955 sold to Alaska
SS Co., Seattle, renamed Fortuna, 1971 developed deck cracks in bad
weather in Gulf of Alaska and returned to Seattle, 1971 scrapped
in Taiwan. |
7,216 |
Galena |
1945 |
built by Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Duluth, Minnesota
| ex- Lever's Bend, standard ship type C1-M-AV1 built for War Shipping
Administration, 1946 transferred from Grace
Line to United Fruit Company,
1955 purchased renamed Galena, 1967 to Marad, 1972 scrapped. |
3,805 |
Iliamna |
1944 |
built by New England Shipbuilding Corporation, East
Yard, South Portland, Maine | ex- Edmond Mallett Liberty ship type
EC-S-C1, 1951 purchased from United States Maritime Commission renamed
Iliamna modified to carry containers, 1972 scrapped in Taiwan. |
7,216 |
Indianapolis |
1904 |
built by Craig SB Co., Toledo | 1906 purchased from
Indiana Transportation Co., Chicago, 1908 transferred to Puget Sound
Nav. Co., Seattle, 1938 scrapped at Seattle. |
765 |
Jefferson |
1904 |
built by E. W. Heath, Tacoma. | 1925 scrapped at Seattle. |
1,615 |
Kenai |
1904 |
built by Risdon Iron Works, San Francisco as the General
Mifflin for U.S. Army | 1934 purchased by Alaska SS Co. renamed Kenai,
1942 sold to Foss Launch & Tug Co., Seattle, 1963 scrapped. |
336 |
Kennecott |
1921 |
built by Todd Drydock & Construction Co., Tacoma |
1923 wrecked.at Hunters Point, south of Frederick Island. |
8,425 |
Latouche |
1910 |
built by Moran Co., Seattle | Built for Alaska SS
Co. 1940 sold to Madrigal & Co., Manila. 2nd Jan.1942 captured by
Japanese renamed Azuchi Maru. 21st Oct.1944 sunk by U.S. air attack
north of Cebu. |
2,332 |
Mariposa |
1883 |
built by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
| ex- Mariposa, 1912 purchased from Oceanic Navigation Company (Matson)
not renamed, 18 December 1917 sank after hitting Straits Island Reef,
British Columbia. |
3,000 |
Mount McKinley |
1918 |
built by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
| ex- Santa Luisa, ex- El Salvador 1928, ex- Santa Ana 1931, 1931
purchased from Grace Line renamed
Mount McKinley, 1942 wrecked. |
4,847 |
Nadina |
1944 |
built by Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation, Savannah,
Georgia | ex- William G. Lee Liberty ship type EC-S-C1 United States
Maritime Commission, 1949 sold to Dorian SS Co., Panama renamed Dorian
Prince, 1949 purchased renamed Nadina later modified to carry containers,
1964 converted into a container ship, 1970 scrapped in Japan. |
7,216 |
Nenana |
1944 |
built by J. A. Jones Construction Company, Brunswick,
Georgia | ex- Felix Riesenberg, Liberty ship type EC-S-C1, built
for United States Maritime Commission, 1951 sold to Pacific Waterways
Corp. (Palmer Shipping.Corp., NY) renamed Transatlantic, 1959 purchased
renamed Nenana modified to carry containers, 1970 laid up, 1972 scrapped
in Taiwan. |
7,216 |
Northwestern |
1890 |
built by John Roach & Son, Chester | ex- Orizaba built
for New York & Cuba Mail Steamship Co., 1906 purchased by Northwest
(Northern) Steamship Co. renamed Northwestern, 1909 Northwest (Northern)
Steamship Co. merged with Alaska Steamship Co., 1940 to US Government,
1942 bombed at Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians while serving as an
accommodations ship. |
3,497 |
Oduna |
1945 |
built by New England Shipbuilding Corporation, East
Yard, South Portland, Maine | ex- Francia A. Retka, Liberty ship
type EC-S-C1, built for United States Maritime Commission, 1951 sold
to Tramp Cargo Carriers, NY renamed Liberty Bell, 1956 to Polarus
SS Co., NY renamed I.R. Lashins, 1957 to Southport SS Corp., NY renamed
Southport, 1964 purchased renamed Oduna and modified to carry containers,
26 November 1965 aground at Cape Pankor, Unimak Island, Alaska and
total loss. |
7,216 |
Ohio |
1873 |
built by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
| ex- Ohio, 1898 purchased from American
Line not renamed, 1909 wrecked on the coast of British Columbia. |
3,488 |
Olympia |
1887 |
built by Barclay, Curle & Co., Glasgow | Laid down
as Doune Castle but completed as Dunbar Castle for Castle
Mail Packet (later Union Castle Line), 1895 sold to Fairfield
Ship Building and Engineering Co. in part payment for the Tantallon
Castle, renamed Olympia and resold to R. Barnwell of London, 1897
sold to the Scottish American Steam Ship Co., Glasgow (Sir W. G.
Pearce manager) and later by W. M. Rhodes for use in the USA as the
Northern Pacific Steamship Line, 1898 when war with Spain was declared,
sold to the North America Mail Steam Ship Co. of Tacoma for operation
of the Tacoma (terminal of the Northern Pacific railway Co.) - Victoria
- Yokohama - Hong Kong - in parallel with the Canadian Pacific service
out of Vancouver, 1903 owned by the North Western Steam Ship Co.
of Seattle ( J. Rosine manager), 1904 purchased yards removed and
three lifeboats installed on each side, 10 December 1910, wrecked
on the coast of Alaska. |
2,682 |
Pennsylvania |
1873 |
built by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
| ex- Pennsylvania, 1898 purchased from American
Line not renamed, 1910 sold to Pacific Mail SS Co. not renamed,
1918 destroyed by fire. |
3,104 |
Redondo |
1902 |
built by Craig SB Co., Toledo for Swayne & Hoyt, San
Francisco | 1915 purchased from Inter-Ocean Transportation Co., St.
Paul, Minn. 1920 reclassified to 1,130 tons. 1935 converted to barge,
1948 sunk at Richmond, Cal. |
679 |
Rosalie |
1893 |
built by Chas. G. White, Alameda, Calif. for James
J. Ebert, Seattle | 1899 purchased from Northwestern SS Co., Seattle,
1902 transferred to Puget Sound Nav. Co., 1918 burnt in Seattle Harbor. |
319 |
Santa Ana |
1900 |
built by H. R. Reed & Sons, Coos Bay, Oregon for A.
W. Beadle & Co., San Francisco | 1908 purchased by Alaska SS Co.
from Northwestern SS Co., Seattle.1923 sold to Wallace Langley, Seattle,
1934 deleted from registers. |
1,250 |
Seward |
1907 |
built by Todd Drydock & Construction Co., Seattle
| Built for North Western Steamship Co., 1909 Northwest Steamship
Co. merged with to Alaska SS Co., 1916 sold to W. C. Proctor, Cincinatti.
7th Apr.1917 captured and sunk by U.52 off Port Vendres. |
3,390 |
Skagway |
1908 |
built by The Moran Co, Seattle | ex- Stanley Dollar,
1919 purchased from Dollar Steamship
Line renamed Skagway, 1924 sold to W. M. Mitchell, Seattle, 1924
sold to Skagway SS Co. (G. H. Walker), Los Angeles, 16 December 1929
beached on fire near Cape Flattery on voyage San Francisco - Tacoma,
total loss. |
1,838 |
Talkeetna |
1944 |
built by Permanente Metals Corporation (Shipbuilding
Division), No.2 Yard, Richmond, California | ex- William Allen White,
Liberty ship type EC-S-C1, built for United States Maritime Commission,
1951 sold to Tak Shipping.Corp. (Palmer Shipping.Corp., NY) renamed
Transpacific, 1959 purchased renamed Talkeetna modified to carry
containers, 1967 sold to Amicus Carriers, NY renamed Amicus, 1968
scrapped in Taiwan. |
7,216 |
Tonsina |
1944 |
built by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc., Baltimore,
Maryland | ex- Chung Tung (launched as William Hodson) Liberty ship
type EC-S-C1, built for United States Maritime Commission, 1947 renamed
Arthur P. Fairfield, 1948 renamed Admiral Arthur P. Fairfield, 1951
sold to Pacific Cargo Carriers Corp (Orion Shipping & Trading Co.,
NY) renamed Sea Coronet, 1954 purchased renamed Tonsina modified
to carry containers, 1964 converted into a container ship, 1970 scrapped
in Japan. |
7,216 |
Victoria |
1870 |
built by John Elder & Co., Dumbarton | ex- Parthia
built for Cunard Line, 1884
sold to John Elder (shipbuilders) in part exchange for new ship,
1887 chartered to Canadian Pacific,
1891 sold to Northern Pacific Steamship Co. renamed Victoria, 1898
sold to North American SS Co., 1904 sold to North Western Steamship
Co., 1909 North Western Steamship Co. merged with to Alaska SS Co.,1952
laid up, 1954 sold to Straits Towing & Salvage Co. in use as a barge,
1956 renamed Straits Maru and scrapped. |
3,167 |
Whatcom |
1901 |
built by E. W. Heathe, Everett, Wash as MAJESTIC for
Thompson Steamboat Co., Seattle | 1904 purchased by Alaska SS Co.
renamed Whatcom, 1905 transferred to Puget Sound Nav. Co., 1922 renamed
City of Bremerton, 1938 scrapped at Seattle. |
657 |
Willapa |
1882 |
built by Frank Whelan, Astoria, Ore. | Built as the
tug General Miles for Ilwaco S.N. Co, Ilwaco, Wash. 1891 rebuilt
as passenger ship for Portland & Coast SS Co., Portland, renamed
Willapa. 1895 purchased by Alaska SS Co., Seattle. 19th Mar.1897
stranded near Bella Bella, BC, refloated and sold to Canadian
Pacific Nav. Co., Victoria, BC. 1903 sold to Bellingham Bay Transportation
Co., Port Townsend, Wash renamed Bellingham. 1917 rebuilt to a lighter
and had various owners until deliberately burned at Seattle on 13th
Aug.1950. |
333 |
Yucatan |
1890 |
built by Delaware River SB Co., Chester, Pa. for J.
E. Ward & Co., New York | 1908 purchased from Northwestern SS Co.,
Seattle, 1911 sold to North Pacific SS Co., San Francisco, 1914 repurchased
by Alaska SS Co., 1915 resold to North Pacific SS Co., 1917 sold
to Japan renamed Shinkai Maru. 1929 scrapped. |
3,497 |
Yukon |
1899 |
built by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
| ex- Colon, ex- Mexico 1905, 1923 purchased from Panama Railroad
Co. renamed Yukon, 4 February 1946 ran aground in Johnstone Bay. |
5,747 |
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