Site Update

- We are going to try adding a FORUM or bulletin-board to our web site. Visitors, who register at the FORUM, can post whatever they want as long as the administration deems it appropriate. Tell us some sea stories. Tell us about yourself. Tell us about a relative who sailed for Isthmian. Search for an old shipmate. Ask a question that the viewing public might help answer. You can get to the FORUM from our HISTORY page or Click here.


1:23 PM - [Link]kozel
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Site Update

- Updated HISTORY and Capt. W.C.Schafran's page.


3:56 PM - [Link]kozel
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Site Update

- Sadly, we report the passing of a good friend and a contributor to our web site, Capt. Walter C. Schafran, on 7 FEB 2005. The burial at sea and scattering of ashes was performed by the USCG Cutter Barracuda (WPB 87301), about 5.47 nautical miles southwest of Humboldt Bay, CA, on 17 Feb 2005 at 10:55 AM. The weather was sunny and clear with a light breeze from the northwest and the seas were calm. We send our condolences to the Captain's family.

- Added Richard K. Reese to the CREW page.


8:01 PM - [Link]kozel
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Site Update

- Added photos to HISTORY, SHIPS and MISC pages, courtesy of Dave Boone, Naomi Washburn, Roger Greenlaw, James Ryan and Knickles Studio & Gallery.

- Added Capt. Bernard Michael Guilfoyle to the CREW page.

- Published an article by Leif Myrhoej about the 1942 bombing and sinking of the Raceland, formerly the Howick Hall. His uncle, crew member, Eskild Ditlev Lauth, died as a result. The research for the piece was quite extensive. Thank you for sharing, Leif. See either the HISTORY or the SHIPS page.


11:11 PM - [Link]kozel
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In Memoriam

- Sad news from Skip Lewis.

Yesterday I heard from his wife that Richard M. King, former Radio Operator on the Steel Trader, had passed away Saturday. Dick, in an effort to save money for college, signed on the Steel Trader in the late 1930's as the Radio Operator. He sailed for a few years, went to college, then to war, participating in the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. He worked for General Electric as an Engineer in upstate NY for his career, retiring to the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

I first met Dick when I stumbled upon the oral history of his life, primarily for his participation in WW II, and sent him a letter inquiring about his experiences with Isthmian. He called me and invited me to his home. We had many visits over the 8 years we knew each other. Dick had photos and a painting of the Steel Trader made in Japan during one of his trips there. In an incredible display of generosity, he gave me this painting.

Dick provided a great deal of encouragement in the early days of my research and is another silent contributor to the Isthmian web site. He was a fine and generous man and will be greatly missed.

Skip



Email

- Received the following note from James L. Gregory, Jr.

My dad (James L. Gregory) was on varoius Isthmian and States Marine Line ships for many years. I don't know all the ships, but I have some paperwork that shows him on the Steel Mariner as a 3rd mate  from 12/7/41 to 7/21/42, on the William Williams from 8/27/42 to 10/2/42. The Williams was torpedoed on May 2, 1942 by Sub I-19 off Fiji. He was also on the Clyde L Seavey in 1944-45 as Master. Other ships until he retired in 1966 where the Steel Scientist, Fabricator and Director. My dad was also on the NS Savannah. He was the Chief Officer and Relief Captain.

He passed away in 1995 at 85 years. I may have some pictures, but they are not handy at this moment.

There was a posted email from a Rojer L Greenlaw which states he had a picture Showing Captains from aroung 1960. My father was listed. If it's possible, I would like to get a copy of this photo.

If this could be posted in some way, I might be able to learn more about my dads career from people that knew him.

Thank You, James L Gregory, Jr.  (Jim)

10:01 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Email

- Received the following note from Carroll N. Bjornson. Both he and his father, Karl O. Bjornson, sailed for Isthmian.

.....

My father, Karl O. Bornson, sailed for Isthmian from 1922 until he retired in 1954. (He had dropped the "J" from the family name 'Bjornson' when he found that Americans had trouble with it, but resumed it after he retired.) I sit in my home office looking at a painting of the STEEL RANGER in Yokohama, another painting of the BANTU in a storm, and a model of the SELMA CITY built in Haiphong in 1938. "Kayo", as he was frequently called, was Chief Officer of the Norwegian SS HANSEAT when she was sunk by a German U-boat in April, 1917; he was Master of the STEEL SCIENTIST when she was sunk by U-514 in October, 1942. My father died in September, 1963.

I made a voyage to Marseilles in 1945 aboard the Isthmian-managed troopship SEA FIDDLER - I was 15 years old - as O.S. promoted to Clerk-Typist. After graduation from Kings Point, I sailed for Isthmian as Jr. 3rd Mate and 3rd Mate aboard the STEEL ARTISAN 1950-1951, and the STEEL SCIENTIST, 1951-1952. (I noted a message from Kenneth Greenlaw, Jr. on the website. His father was Chief Mate on the ARTISAN, and we were good friends. Do you have an e-mail address for him; I would like to be in touch. Ken Sr. had earlier sailed with my Dad.)

I was in frequent touch with John Atherton while he was writing Imperial Steel. I noted a reference to the book on the website.

.....

Kindest regards,
Carroll Bjornson

11:08 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update

- Added over a dozen ship photos to the HISTORY and SHIPS pages, courtesy of Capt. Tom Ellsworth and Skip Lewis.

10:06 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update

- Published excerpt #6 from Capt. Schafran's book, A Wartime Voyage.

2:02 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update

- Added about a dozen ship photos to the HISTORY and SHIPS pages, courtesy of David Boone, a marine artist. There is also an example of his art on the bottom of the MISC page. To see more, go to his web site, www.tugboatpainter.com. You can contact him at tugboatpainter@comcast.net. Thank you for your support, Dave.

1:35 PM - [Link]bigbear
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In Memoriam

- Sadly, we report the passing of Helen M. Schirmer Kozel (former Ensign USN and wife of the late Captain George C. Kozel), on 18 April 2004, in Lancaster, PA. She was laid to rest on 21 April 2004 at Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, NY.


Site Update

- Updated photo of Steel Mariner on SHIPS page, courtesy of Thomas Renaghan.


1:37 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- I have been unavailable for a few weeks and I have some catching up to do. Some emails that came in are:

- (From Ray "Junior" Hansen)
My name is Ray Hansen, known to my shipmates as Junior.

I sailed around the world on Steel Chemist, New York to New York in 1957 as OS. under Capt. Homer Howser. Bosun named Chris (?) 1st was Paul Vesey. I remember she sailed with a port list. I visited the historical web site Re Steel Chemist and was surprised to learn that there had been extensive groundings and collisions - probably the cause of the list. What I didn't know was that as the USS Leon, she had had an extensive war history with 4 Battle Stars. I now fell quite proud to have been associated with her.

Other crew members were Blackie, Julio, Harry and a huge Russian or Polish chips who's name escapes me for the moment.

I have many fond memories of the Philippines especially Bugo on Mindanao.....

Things are coming back....I remember Harry, my watch mate from Brooklyn.....

Bugo had one dock, so while awaiting space to dock, we fished for many sharks trying mangoes for bait. No Luck.

Congrats on a great web site - Ray Hansen

- (From Alan Randall)
Captain Kenneth Greenlaw was master of the Steel Seafarer in the summer of 1958 when I joined her as second mate. We made Persian Gulf and round-the-world-westbound voyages during the following eighteen months. Captain Greenlaw was a thoroughly experienced and reliable Master before I met him. He was cool under trying conditions and was respected by seamen and shore personnel.

A.Randall

- (From Tom Lane)
I found your website while researching my uncle (part of the Navy Armed Guard) who was KIA aboard the SS Steel Navigator in WWII. Your webpage on the Steel Navigator cites information you received from Skip Lewis.

I would like to find out more about the sinking of the Steel Navigator.....

Thanks,

Tom Lane

- (From Henry "Hank" Dabrowski)
Steel Director and Steel Fabricator: Last trip 10-1949, 2nd Asst. Then, 1950, ended up in Corps of Engineers for K.W.

Henry J. Dabrowski

- (From Roy Hoffman)
Dear Mr. Lewis - what a terrific and comprehensive website! I'm a staff writer for the Mobile Register in Mobile, Al., trying to piece together a story about an English gentleman, now in his 80s, named George Jeffrey, who was rescued from a lifeboat by the Knoxville City in June, 1941, according to his recollection these many years later. The interest to my readership in south Alabama is the origin of the ship, Chickasaw, its crew, from Watermans, and Jeffrey's long-lost lifeboat log published in the Mobile newspaper in 1941 (I am searching for this. Mr. Jeffrey says the log was printed here, but doesn't recall exactly when - so far, I haven't turned it up in the old newspaper files.) Another approach to my story is to find out if anyone who picked up Mr. Jeffrey from that lifeboat might still be alive. One possibility would be the 2nd officer, a Norwegian, about Mr. Jeffrey's age (18) at the time. Please let me hear from you - perhaps you have already fielded a similar request from someone else - and, in advance, many thanks. Best, Roy Hoffman (1-800-239-1340, ext. 5625)


6:42 PM - [Link]bigbear
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In Memoriam

- Sadly, we report the passing of Captain Eugene "Gene" Harrower, on 26 March 2004. Capt. Gene was a good friend to Skip Lewis and a welcomed contributor to IsthmianLines.com and StatesMarineLines.com. He will be missed.

11:50 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Published excerpt #5 from Capt. Schafran's book, A Wartime Voyage.

3:11 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Received the following note from James Ryan about his grandfather Capt. Charles Ryan. Thank you, James, for the kind offer to contribute more information.

- Hello,

My grandfather was a captain and the Commodore (1956??) with the Isthmian Lines. His name was Charles Ryan.

I am working with my father on gathering info about my grandfather. My dad has a wealth of knowledge with regards to my grandfathers history and ships he sailed. In addition my father has a great number of pictures that I am going to start scanning and preserving. I will be glad to forward these to you as soon as I complete the scanning.

.....

I will be in touch.

Thanks,
James Ryan

4:02 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Received the following note from Jim Algrant. Thanks for the kind words, Jim.

- Congratulations and thanks on a great site! Just FYI I sailed as R/O on SS Stephen Crane in 1944 on voyage to Mediterranean, Oran, Naples invasion of Southern France. Skipper was (FNU) Tucker. Believe I was youngest R/O in US merchant marine in WW2 (17yrs old).

Keep up the good work.

Jim Algrant

2:44 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Received the following note from Kenneth N. Greenlaw, Jr.

- My brother, Roger Greenlaw, recently corresponded with you concerning the career of our father, Captain Kenneth N. Greenlaw, with Isthmian Steamship Company. In return correspondence from Skip Lewis my brother was informed that he (Skip) could not identify my father as ever having been master of one of the Isthmian Ships. I am in possession of my fathers "Continuous Discharge Book" and note that his service with Isthmian commenced as the 2nd Officer on the Frank Wiggins from February 1944 as the Second Officer. This was followed by service as the Chief Mate on the James McCosh, the Anniston City on five different voyages, the Steel Ranger (2 voyages), the Citadel Victory, the Beaver Victory, the Zane Grey, the Steel Seafarer (five different voyages), the Steel Rover (two different voyages), the Steel Artisan (four different voyages), and the Steel Surveyor. He then was Master from October, 1961 on the Steel Age, the Steel Vendor (eight voyages), the Steel Executive (ten different voyages), ending his career on September 30, 1973, when the ship was sold for scrap at Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

It was interesting to note that Walter C. Schafran was Master on the "James C. McCosh" when my father served on that ship in 1944.

I spent almost thirty years in the United States Army and had the occasion to go aboard Isthmian ships in various ports throughout the world to include Japan and Vietnam. On one occasion, my father brought military inventory to Cam Rahn Bay in Vietnam and I had the opportunity to meet him there. He then transited the Saigon River to Saigon during the Tet Offensive of 1968 and I was able to once again visit with him there.

I would like to continue corresponding with you concerning incidents which are of interest to both of us.

With warm Regards.
Kenneth N. Greenlaw, Jr.
Col, US Army (ret)

1:39 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Published excerpt #4 from Capt. Schafran's book, A Wartime Voyage.

10:14 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Received the following email from Linda Losey, who lives downeast. Great note, Linda. Thanks.

- What a shock to see of the ship I rode on as a little girl on a trip from New York to Manila in 1958! That is such a neat photo of the SS Steel Executive. We came close to losing our lives during a typhoon while crossing the Pacific. I've often wondered if anyone has access to the log of that trip. Our captain, who had traveled that route many times, said that he was unsure if we were going to make it. We traveled through the eye and the winds slacked off. The captain attempted to turn around because we'd made no progress for three days, but the winds returned and we were caught again in the grip of the storm.

The Panama Canal was the highlight of the trip-watching the parrots and tropical birds was memorable.

I was asked to give a talk to the children at our church about my trip as a child to be a missionary to the Phillipines, and we googled the "SS Steel Executive" and found your site-voila, it looks like the real thing.

Again, thanks for posting the photos and bringing back my memories.

If you know how I could obtain a copy of the log, I'd love to see it.

Linda Losey

9:57 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Received the following note from Roger L. Greenlaw.

- For the past year I have been repairing a hand crafted model of the Steel Seafarer that was given to my father, Captain Kenneth Greenlaw by the ship's carpenter. For finishing touch I wanted to fly the Isthmian Flag from the forward mast and accessed your web site by chance. Thanks for the flags.

My Dad sailed for Isthmian from 1943 till the demise of the company and was skipper of the Steel Vendor. No, he wasn't on board when she sank in the South China Sea. At the time of the sinking he was home on a three month leave. Unfortunately he didn't take very many photos of his many voyages, but I do have page from a company book with pictures of the captains. I believe it's vintage is about 1960. I would be happy to send it to you with the proviso that once it is copied it be returned.

The masters shown are:
Ray V. Tillett, Commodore
Burton M. Green
Karl O. Bornson
Charles Ryan
James Brummelen
Ivar M. Rosenquist
Michael Barry
Henry C. Mecklem....Note: I sailed under him during the summer of 1956 as a seaman.
Cecil R. Fitzsimons
Frank Jones
Siguard Bernhard
Martin Talk
Joseph Scully
William S. Latham
Frank Coleman
William Williams
Henry K. Toepel
Earl Stanley
Gustave E. Sundberg
Barry M. Major
John Kauserud
James Gregory
Peter Walsh
William E. Townsend
Martin Gaughen
Kenneth N. Greenlaw (My Father)
Homer Howser
William Myer
Robert Minor
John T. Williams

The paper I have does not imply the ships they sailed.

My Dad passed on April 1993 at the age of 83. He was cremated and his ashes were put to sea along the Pacific Coast of California. If I should find any other documents or information I will let you know. Please let me know if you would like to borrow the page I have.

Sincerely yours.

Roger L. Greenlaw

11:56 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Published excerpt #3 from Capt. Schafran's book, A Wartime Voyage.

4:14 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Received an email from Jeremiah K. Lahey containing some words of rememberance for his father, Richard T. Lahey, Sr. I posted them on his dad's page.

10:14 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added George W. Morgan, Jr. to the CREW.

11:37 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Published excerpt #2 from Capt. Schafran's book, A Wartime Voyage.

12:46 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added Richard Lahey and photos to the CREW pages. Jeremiah Lahey, Dick's son, sent them to us through Wendell R. Benson.
- Added photo of Steel Chemist to SHIPS, courtesy of Jeremiah Lahey.

2:14 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added Capt. Walter C. Schafran to the CREW pages and started publishing excerpts from his books on his page. You can get there easily from the HISTORY or main page.
- Added photo of Steel Mariner to SHIPS, courtesy of Capt. Schafran.

3:49 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Received the following note from John A. Wolter. Thanks for the compliments and we'd be more than willing to publish some of your sea stories.

- I am a former "Isthmian stiff". Sailed as Jr,3rd, 3rd and 2nd mate on several ships from 1946 to 1950 qnd 1956 to 1960. In between served in the US Army during the Korean War and obtained a BA from the University of Minnesota. Have read Imperial Steel and found it very good history but not much in the way of actual seafaring -decks awash, etc. Since my wife is insisting that I write my memoir soon have benn looking to the internet for information and inspiration. Your material is really great and the chronology very good. My first ship for Isthmian was turning over the Ensley City to her new owners-that is a funny story for another day. FYI am a AMMV and a Cactus Mariner now far from the briny deep. This was just a short introduction and a thanks for the chronology-SUPERB.
John A. Wolter

10:03 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added photos of Wendell R. Benson.
- Added photo of Steel Artisan to SHIPS, courtesy of Miles MacMahon.

US Mail
- Capt. Walter Schafran sent me two books that he wrote and, with his permission, I am going to publish parts of them on the web site. It is great stuff.

2:43 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Received the following note from Ray Maurstad.

- I am a retired sea-going Radio Officer. My name is Ray Maurstad and I live in Minnesota. I went to sea as R/O for 20 years. In 1953 I was doing a lot of relief work and I was on the S/S Steel Chemist radio call letters "KRLV" from 2/15/53 thru 3/14/53. I retired from the sea in 1996 and I am now a published author. The book title is "SOS KOREA 1950". I enjoy your website. Thanks.
Ray Maurstad / Ham Radio W3HUV


Email
- Received the following note from Wendell R. Benson.

- This story should interest you. At the bottom of this mail is a copy of the mail I sent to a few of my friends. It sure got me some responses almost immediately. Also early today received an email from San Diego where the 2nd mate from the Advocate lives now. He remembers the photo I submitted and said it was taken in 1952.

Walter Key who sent you mail I remember very well. We worked together at Mackay Radio station WSF at 67 Broad St NYC. Im sure you remember the Andrea Doria sinking off Nantucket in 56. He did considerable work on that incident. He was on duty the next morning at WSF and handled a lot of messages from the MV Stockholm who was involved in the collision and was limping back to NY harbor with survivors.

Regards,
Wendell

- (This is a note that Wendell got from his friend, Joe Prewitt)
- Hi Wendell:

Thank you so much for this Isthmian Lines web site. Its fantastic and read the history of the Steel King while I was on my first trip to Vietnam and is veery accurate acount of what happened to the ship. Even when the ship ran ilnto a barge in Manila harbor. Think I sent you an account of this trip to Vietnamand just in case here it is again.::DRIFTING TOWARD HAWAII FOR A WEEK

MY FIRST JOB WITH THE ROU WAS AN ISTHMIAN STEAMSHIP LINES C-3 FREIGHTER CALLED THE "SS STEEL KING/KIWM" IT WAS A 3 MONTH RELIEF JOB GOING TO PORTS IN VIETNAM WITH STOPS ON THE WAY IN HONOLULU, MANILA AND YOKOHAMA. IT WAS A COMFORTABLE RIDING SHIP WITH RADIOROOM LOCATED BEHIND THE BRIDGE AND HAD A NICE LARGE AREA BACK OF THE RADIOROOM. THE RADIO ROOM WAS LARGE WITH THE OLD UPRIGHT RCA TRANSMITTERS SUCH AS THE MF XMTR ET-8010C ) AS DESCRIBED IN NILSON AND HORNINGS BOOK PRACTICAL RADIO COMMUNICATION ) AND THE HF XMTR WAS THE RCA ET8019. I BELIEVE THE BATTERY POWERED EMERGENCY XMTR WAS AN MACKAY RADIO MODEL

ONE BEAUTIFUL SUNNY AFTERNOON THE CAPTAIN CALLED ME TO THE BRIDGE TO CALL HONOLULU RADIO ON THE 2MC RADIO TELEPHONE BAND. WE WERE ABOUT 300 MILES FROM HONOLULU AND I TOLD THE CAPTAIN THAT WE WERRE TOO FAR TO RAISE HONO. BUT HE GRABBED THE MIKE AND TURNED UP THE GAIN TO FULL ON BLASTING OUR EARDRUMS WITH WHITENOISE AND DRIVING THE POOR DANISH 3 MATE TO THE BRIDGEWING. AND THEN THE CAPTAIN STARTED TO BEAT ON THE RADIO TELEPHONE (WHICH WAS A MACKAY) UNTIL DUST STARTED TO COMEOUT OF THE U NIT( IN SPITTE OF BEATING UP ON THE RADIOPHONE HE NEVER REACHED HONO)

. ANYWAY WE WERE ALMOST EMPTY AND HEADING BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO AND WERE 800 MILES FROM FRISCO WHEN THE SHIP STOPPED DEAD IN THE WATER . THEEY WERE HAVING GENERATOR AND BOILER PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY THE SEA WAS DEAD CALM AND THEY STARTED UP THE EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR TO SUPPLY POWER TO THE SHIP AND THIS GENERATOR RAN FOR ALMOST 4 HOURS BEFORE BLOWING UP. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS WORKING WAS THE SHIPS 500 KHZ BATTERY OPERATED EMERGENCY TRANSMITTTER AND I WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE RCA STATION IN SANFRANCISCO KPH AT ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT. THE COMPANY DISPATCHED A TUGBOAT TO TOW US IN. MEANWHILE, THE ENGINEERS PATCHED UP ONE BOILER AND ONE GENERATOR AND WE WERE NOW MOVING AT HALF SPEED IN THE DIRECTION OF SAN FRANCISO. BUT WE WERE NOW SHORT OF WATER AS THEY HAD NOT PUT ON ENOUGH WATER IN YOKOHAMA. SO AFTER A FEW HOURS THE SHIP WAS DRIFTING BACK TOWARDS HAWAII AGAIN. ANOTHER MSG FROM KPH WHICH INFORMED US THAT THE TUG HAD BROKE DOWN AND ANOTHER ONE WAS DISPATCHED. IT FINALLY REACHED US AND SOME 14 DAYS LATER WE MADE QTP IN SAN FRANCISCO. tHE BATTERY POWERED EMERGENCY WAS USUABLE ALL THE TIME AND NEVER LET US DOWN. TO CONSERVE OUR BATTERY POWER FOR THE 500 XMTR THE AUSSY CHIEF STEWARD DID LOAN ME HIS SHORTWAVE RECEIVER TO COPY TRAFFIC LISTS FROM KPH. NEXT STORY WILL BE MY LAST FREIGHTER TRIP TO PORTS FROM jAPAN TO THILAND WITH SEALAND.

Tks and 73 de Joe w0tut

11:25 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Received the following note from Denise Weaver about her dad, Charles G. Weaver.

- my dad sailed with this line around 1943.since his passing ive explored his overtime book along with his leave papers to baghdad.he had collected coin and currency along with ships store coupons for beer.many baghdad hotel advertisements and a menu from 12/25 /43 for his ships christmas dinner.also has 2 large brown shells I hope to be cocoa beans.his name was charles g weaver.if I read it right he was on white flash with a lot of fuel.then the robert c tuttle then the horace mann anniston city

Email
- Received the following note from Walter H. Key Jr. and yes, there is a web site at StatesMarineLines.com.

- Hi , good friend of mine and a former co worker at radio station WSF , Wendell Benson told me about this site. Was wondering if you had any thing listed for Statesmarine lines? I was the Radio Officer on board the SS Golden State back in September 1966 through December 1966. Trip was supposed to be San Francisco to Manila, then Vietnam under MSTS charter. This trip was cut short by our becoming involved in a collision in Manila Bay off Corregidor Island. The other vessel was the MV Pioneer Leyete, a converted LST being used as an inter-island ferry. That vessel sank immediately after the collision. She came across our bow with her starboard side and opened up from stem to stern. Lose of life was over 300 souls No casualties on our ship. Our crew did one heck of a job saving all they could. Ralph Edwards was our captain. We had a big hole in our bow into the number one hold and took some water but was able to control the situation and after a cement patch installed we limped back to San Francisco. I went back to work at WSF for a while after that incident and then back out to sea for T. J. Stevenson line, under MSTS charter on the SS Flower Hill. Two trips to Nam from Sunny Point, NC with ammo, then a trip to India , Nagapatinam with bulk fertilizer. Guess I liked to live dangerously. Made final trip at sea with Moore McCormack Lines, on SS Mormac Oak to Buenos Aires and back from New York and then on to a new career. Hope you found this interesting and if you would like to pass it along to Skip, that would be fine with me. My congratulations on a very fine web site, keep up the good work, Walt (Walter H. Key Jr.)

12:09 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added photos of Steel Advocate, Steel Age, Steel Inventor and Steel Worker to SHIPS, courtesy of Wendell R. Benson and George W. Morgan.

4:39 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Got a call from Wendell R. Benson who followed it up with an email and a photo of the Steel Advocate. Had a nice chat with him and he mentioned that The World War II Memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29th, 2004, in Washington, D.C. They are keeping a registry of those who contributed to the war effort and making that information available online. Go to www.wwiimemorial.com and search the databases. Register those who are not there, but deserve to be.

Site Update
- Added Wendell R. Benson to CREW.
- Added photo of Steel Advocate to SHIPS (courtesy of Wendell R. Benson).

12:21 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- Capt. Walter Schafran and I having been talking a bit via email. He found the web site and has very graciously offered to share some of his personal experiences with us. He currently resides in Washington State and writes that, other than two years at the NYS Merchant Marine Academy, he sailed exclusively for Isthmian Lines from 1 March 1938 through December 1950. He rose through the ranks from able seaman to master. Capt. Schafran is also going to mail me copies of his A Wartime Voyage and Notes From Neptune's Post Office, so we can publish some of his writings. Thank you, Captain.

- (The following is part of an email from Capt. Schafran, just to give you an idea of what is to come.)

During WW II, as second mate aboard SS STEEL MARINER, I made a 294-day, 34,000 mile voyage around the world. It was quite unusual and unconventional, but it was wartime. We loaded a full cargo of war material for the then Soviet Union in Baltimore. Briefly, our route took us through the Panama Canal; down the west coast of South America; around Cape Horn to Capetown where we fueled. From there it was to Bandar Shapour in the Persian Gulf where the cargo was off-loaded, shipped by rail to Tehran and thence to Russia. For the return voyage we loaded in India and Ceylon for Baltimore. Our route home took us to Hobart, Tasmania, for fuel; the Panama Canal; and back to Baltimore.


Something else of interest. My first ship as Master was the Liberty Ship JAMES McCOSH. Although there were well over 2,000 built, this one was a little different -- it was fitted with torpedo nets! Experience streaming out torpedo nets and taking them in, all the while trying to maintain position in convoy.


12:43 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- I received a note from Alexander Balagurchik. His dad, who worked for Isthmian in the early 1950s, has been in rather ill health. We wish the family well.

- By the way, The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the US used to issue life insurance policies for Isthmian employees many years ago. Does anyone know what isurance company took over that function?


4:42 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- I received the following note from Harold G. Farrell. Like Harold, my brother also sailed as an O.S. one summer, to see the world, before graduating from college. Unfortunately, it was at the beginning of "containerization." Due to the fast unloading/loading that came with it, I think he only got to see one European, port city and that was because the longshoremen wouldn't work on Sunday.

- During the summer of 1941 I was an ordinary seaman on the Steel Traveler. We sailed from Boston to the Hawaiian Islands. It was quite an adventure for a seventeen year old. It made a man of me and I always treasured the memories of that voyage. I wanted to continue on the next trip but was discouraged by my father, who was a retired sea captain, because of the pending war crisis. Harold G Farrell
4:24 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- I received the following note from Thomas M. Renaghan today. If anyone has any Isthmian photos, information or memorabilia, contact us. We'll be happy to publish something about it. If anyone knows crew members who sailed for Isthmian and would like to see them recognized on this site, contact us. We happily publish bios and photos.
- Interesting web site - my father (Eugene T. Renaghan) worked for this company during WWII and after- he served on the Steel Mariner and the Kenyon Victory-he passed away three years ago-I have a picture of the Steel Mariner but it is not in very good condition-
thanks

4:17 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added photo of Steve Guilfoyle's dad aboard the S.S. Steel Inventor, circa 1938, to the MISC page. Thanks for sending it to us, Steve.

11:38 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- I received this note from Steve Guilfoyle. Does anybody have any info?

- hopefully we can help each other. the info i have on my grampa (1899,1900-1947) is that he was youngest ever to achive captain,probably around 1925. his home was new york and most of his trips were to far east,china,japan,etc.during WW 2 his trips were to england. when his trips were along the coast he'd go to hawaii and i have a copy of a photo of my father,as a youngster, on board the steel inventor, that i can pass to you. i was told grampa took my dad on a trip once to hawaii. on april 30th. 1947 grampa died at sea or in singapore, 5 yrs. b4 i was born. growing up isthmian steamship co. is the name that i remember hearing about grampa. anything i can learn or anywhere you could direct me i'm hungry for knowledge of him. i found your website today and had to read every word on every page its so interesting also looking for mention of gramps. my name is steve guilfoyle and e-mail address is ***@aol.com looking forward for a reply, thanks bear.

6:04 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added David A. Dent to CREW with photos.

1:24 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added States Marine Lines link to page headings.

4:56 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- I received another communication from George Ashbridge (USN retired) about his dad. It would appear, from documents, that his dad had gone to sea to see the world, did so and came ashore in March 1940. He sailed for Isthmian on 2 more of their ships, the S.S. Steel Seafarer (around the world) and the S.S. Steel Voyager. George is himself considering going back to sea. We wish him well.
5:58 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Email
- I received this note from George Ashbridge in regards to the S.S. Ensley City.
- My father's Continous Discharge Book shows that he joined the ship 22 Jun 1937 at New York and was discharged 25 Oct 1937 at New Orleans. The description of voyage is not clear to me, it looks like "India" but that doesn't make sense.
Good luck.

1:08 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added or changed photos for S.S. Steel Admiral, S.S. Steel Architect, S.S. Steel Executive, S.S. Steel King, S.S. Steel Rover & S.S. Steel Vendor on HISTORY and SHIPS. The new photos, acquired by Skip Lewis, are at the courtesy of Tom Ellsworth. Thanks, guys.

4:28 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added S.S. Steel Apprentice photo to SHIPS

4:15 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added photos to SHIPS

11:48 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added link to USCG Marine Casualty Report for S.S. Steel Vendor to SHIPS

5:47 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added photos to SHIPS (see S.S. Steel Vendor on reef in South China Sea)

Thanks, again to Skip Lewis.

3:01 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added photos to SHIPS
- Added photos to MISC

Thanks, again to Skip Lewis.

3:06 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added 42 ship-data pages ("Ancient" fleet) to SHIPS.

11:34 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
The BLOG page layout has been changed. If you "Subscribe" using the link on the left side of the page, you will get email notification when a new "Weblog" post is made.

4:45 PM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added 24 ship-data pages ("Modern" fleet) to SHIPS.
- Added Philadelphia Wharves pic to MISC.

4:16 PM - [Link]bigbear
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News
Skip Lewis has done it again. He just sent me data pages for 67 Isthmian ships, both "Modern" (acquired after WWII) and "Ancient" (acquired before that). He is also going to send me a scan of a photo of the Steel Vendor on a reef. Thanks, Skip.

If anyone else has Isthmian or States Marine information, photos or memorabilia, please contact me.

3:22 AM - [Link]bigbear
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Site Update
- Added Capt. Woodrow G. Lewis to CREW.

10:38 PM - [Link]bigbear
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