In July, 1940, the company contracted to purchase the S.S. Marina from 

 the Maritime Commission. She was completed and delivered in January, 

 1942, and was of the same general type as the Angelina and the Manuela. 



At the outbreak of World War II, the fleet consisted of thirty-two 

 vessels, which were shortly diverted from their regular trades to govern- 

 ment war use. Of these ships, seventeen were lost to enemy action in the 

 course of the war, and three were requisitioned for title by the govern- 

 ment, the fleet thus being reduced to twelve ships. The Angelina and the 

 Manuela were both lost in the early days of the war; later the Marina 

 was mined off the coast of France. Since the war, the A. H. Bull Steam- 

 ship Co. has purchased from the Maritime Commission five C-2 vessels, 

 three bulk-cargo carriers, and five Liberty-type vessels. 



During the war A. H. Bull & Co., the operating branch, acted as agent 

 for the War Shipping Administration, and maintained not only its Puerto 

 Rico and Santo Domingo services, but also the operation throughout the 

 world of vessels which carried vital supplies and materiel to the Pacific 

 and Atlantic battle areas. At one time this company was operating more 

 than ninety vessels for the War Shipping Administration. 



Since the withdrawal of the government operating program at the war's 

 end, the problems of reconversion have been paramount. Liner services 

 are being restored and improved with modern vessels and equipment, and 

 a large volume of bulk business, domestic and foreign, accommodated. 



Many of the personnel of the companies, particularly those with long 

 experience in shipping matters, joined the armed services — principally the 

 Navy and Coast Guard — and served at home and overseas during the war. 

 They have now returned ; and, with its prewar organization substantially 

 intact and its war losses substantially replaced wtih new and modern 

 tonnage, the company looks forward with confidence to its important 

 postwar position in the American Merchant Marine. 



It has always given the author the greatest pleasure to go into the 

 offices of an American steamship line such as A. H. Bull & Co. and see 

 there the portraits of the former owners — sons and grandsons, often, of 

 the original founders — who have directed their companies down through 

 the years. 



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