Munson Line
Encyclopedia
The Munson Steamship Line, frequently shortened to the Munson Line, was an American
steamship company that operated in the Atlantic Ocean primarily between U.S. ports and ports in the Caribbean
and South America
. The line was founded in 1899 as a freight line, added passenger service in 1919, and went out of business in 1937.
to Havana
into a line that encompassed eastern Cuba
, Mexico
, and ports on the Gulf of Mexico
and operated over 60 freighter
s, and becoming the largest ocean freight company on the Eastern Seaboard
. Walter Munson was succeeded first by his son Carlos, and, later, by his son Frank Munson shortly after the end of World War I
. The , built by Maryland Steel in Baltimore, became the first passenger liner and was employed on the eastern Cuba route.
Frank Munson, after securing former German
steamers seized during the war, began New York–South America service with (the ex-Prinz Joachim of the Hamburg America Line
) in December 1919. , a former Austro-American Line steamer, and , and , all former North German Lloyd steamers, were added to the service by the United States Shipping Board
(USSB) soon after.
In July 1921, four Type 535 class ships—, , , and —were assigned to the Munson Line by the USSB (and the former North German Lloyd ships were returned). In 1922, Martha Washington was returned to Italy after an act of Congress
declared that she belonged to the Cosulich Line
. , built at New York Shipbuilding
of Camden
, New Jersey
, was added to Caribbean service in 1921.
In 1925, Munson Line bought outright the USSB ships. In 1931, Western World ran aground off the coast of Brazil
, where she would remain for four months before finally arriving in New York for repairs. But the Great Depression
dramatically reduced ocean traffic and the company slowly dwindled in size, laying up ships or scrapping them to save the costs of operating them. By 1937, the United States Maritime Commission
, a successor to the USSB, had taken over the remaining ships of the troubled line when it declared bankruptcy in 1937.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
steamship company that operated in the Atlantic Ocean primarily between U.S. ports and ports in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. The line was founded in 1899 as a freight line, added passenger service in 1919, and went out of business in 1937.
History
The Munson Steamship Line was founded in 1899 by Walter D. Munson, who built a freight line from New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
into a line that encompassed eastern Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and ports on the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and operated over 60 freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
s, and becoming the largest ocean freight company on the Eastern Seaboard
Eastern seaboard
An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...
. Walter Munson was succeeded first by his son Carlos, and, later, by his son Frank Munson shortly after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The , built by Maryland Steel in Baltimore, became the first passenger liner and was employed on the eastern Cuba route.
Frank Munson, after securing former German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
steamers seized during the war, began New York–South America service with (the ex-Prinz Joachim of the Hamburg America Line
Hamburg America Line
The Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft was a transatlantic shipping enterprise established in Hamburg, Germany during...
) in December 1919. , a former Austro-American Line steamer, and , and , all former North German Lloyd steamers, were added to the service by the United States Shipping Board
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
(USSB) soon after.
In July 1921, four Type 535 class ships—, , , and —were assigned to the Munson Line by the USSB (and the former North German Lloyd ships were returned). In 1922, Martha Washington was returned to Italy after an act of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
declared that she belonged to the Cosulich Line
Cosulich Line
The Cosulich Line, formally the Cosulich Societa Triestina di Navigazione, was a steamship line that was based in Trieste, Italy. The company had been founded in 1903 as Unione Austriaca di Navigazione, more commonly called the Austro-American or Austro-Americana Line, when Trieste was under the...
. , built at New York Shipbuilding
New York Shipbuilding
The New York Shipbuilding Corporation was founded in 1899 and opened its first shipyard in 1900. Located in Camden, New Jersey on the east shore of the Delaware River, New York Ship built more than 500 vessels for the U.S...
of Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, was added to Caribbean service in 1921.
In 1925, Munson Line bought outright the USSB ships. In 1931, Western World ran aground off the coast of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where she would remain for four months before finally arriving in New York for repairs. But the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
dramatically reduced ocean traffic and the company slowly dwindled in size, laying up ships or scrapping them to save the costs of operating them. By 1937, the United States Maritime Commission
United States Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I...
, a successor to the USSB, had taken over the remaining ships of the troubled line when it declared bankruptcy in 1937.