SHIPS OF THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE 



THE AMERICAN SOUTH AFRICAN LINE, INC., oldest 

 American-flag operator to South and East Africa, was formally 

 established in 1925. But because the history of a business is always the 

 history of the men who lay its foundation and carry it on, the story of this 

 pioneer line actually begins nearly a century ago, when Captain John G. 

 Farrell came to this country from Ireland and settled in Fairhaven, Con- 

 necticut. A shipmaster of the old country, Captain Farrell soon acquired 

 the brig Monte Crista, which, in 1863, became the first vessel under the 

 American flag owned by the Farrell family. 



The first sailing under the red, white and blue house flag of the new 

 owners was the departure of the West Isleta in January, 1926. The Amer- 

 ican South African Line scheduled monthly sailings from New York 

 and other Atlantic ports to the coast of South and East Africa. The 

 principal ports of call were Capetown, Port Elizabeth, East London, 

 Durban, Lourenco Marques and Beira. Later the frequency of service 

 was increased and the route extended to Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga 

 and Mombasa. 



The American South African Line contracted with the United States 

 Post Office Department that same year to carry mail to and from South 

 African ports. 



In 1942, the line was appointed agent of the United States War Ship- 

 ping Administration, acting in the capacity of general agent, time charter 

 agent and berth agent. Between June, 1942, and Victory Fleet Day, 

 September 27, 1944, when the line received the War Shipping Adminis- 

 tration flag in "recognition of meritorious service to the United States of 

 America in time of war," more than 350 outward voyages to all parts 

 of the world were recorded by the company's general offices in New York. 

 Cargoes totaled approximately three and a half million tons. 



The three dark blue stars on the American South African Line's WSA 

 pennant indicate that the company operated more than half a hundred 



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