SS Coamo and SS Borinquen, Twin Sisters of the New York by Capcain Henry N. Helgesen, US Coast Guard, (Ret.) altogether and create a US-flag fleet to remain in the trade. From 1898 until its end in 1949, the company's ships operated solely under the US flag. In 1907 the Porto Rico Line, along with the Ward line (Cuba Mail Line) , the Clyde Line, the Mallory Line (both consolidated in 1934), and
her maiden voyage on 26 February 1931. The company decided to retain the general characteristics of the Coamo for their new flag ship Borinquen, whose lines were drawn aribbean cruises were not always the luxury cruise ship experience up by Theodore E. Ferris. When it was launched, the Coamo (ofthey are today. In the 1920s and 30s, regular steamship service to ficial no. 225135) was the largest ship of the West Indies was plentiful, but 'T".!11~----------a the company at 7, 05 7 gross tons ! rt"''\HH.\ H with a displacement of 11 ,000 modest in terms of both speed g ,/ / ! "'""), .'.:'.~ "" 1, , \ tt£ o 0 and comfort. Steamship service ~ / l '"-· f:~~-. ~ ( 6,f Ol{lll i\l(O tons, 429' length x 59.8 ' breath to Puerto Rico, an American posI ~ur .. .., \ . 11H.i\I, ~ (TEAMSLllP otiPAHY. and a draft of23'6." SS Borinquen "'• ....,., .., •. ~) V.r1 otlS 5cRttc~ (official no. 230447) was slightly session since 1898 , was restricted / · ~'' -· re» r r-._ ~ i:.~5rc ..oiiA~'-"""' t~ ·PORTOalCO. largerat 7, 114 gross tons, butothby ca botage 1aw (fi rst enacted in ·~ \ ll . 181 7 and refined in 1920 as the erwise had the same sped fications. "Merchant Marine Act of 1920," Both were powered with steam or "Jones Act") that barred forturbine engines-single reducATI .\ 'fl eign competition. As a result, the tion, 6,500 HP, oil burning. .<>C AN quality of passenger service left Deadweight carrying capacity for a lot to be desired until 1926, each was 4,600 long tons. when the New York and Porto To attract passengers, the comGU LF or Rico Steamship Company (Porto pany advertised that the ships ' I C.XI 0 Rico Line) introduced the paswere designed and built to meet senger ship Coamo to the route. the most exacting requirements ·•· SS Coamo was a modern and fast of even the most discriminating ship which typically steamed in passengers. As a youngster, I was the l 6 Y2-knot range. She could on board the Coamo and can attest to her elegance. Both vessels could truly be called a luxury vessel, but she was also built with extensive accommodate 350 passengers: refrigerated cargo holds for carrying the the Southern Steamship Co mpany, was 250 in first class and 100 in second class. island's perishables. She would run with acquired and became a subsidiary of what The interior common areas included a the slightly smaller and slower San Lorenzo became the Atlantic, Gulf, and West Indies main lounge and music room, dining, (ex-Erazo 1919) until Borinquen replaced Steamship Company (AGWI). TheAGWI smoking and writing rooms, a library, and her in 1931-a dramatic improvement. subsidiaries operated indepe ndentl y; There was no air service between Puerto AGWI planned and made the expenditures Rico and the continent during this period. for the building of ships for the subsidiaries Passenger travel with any sort of comfort and controlled rhe companies. The Coamo and the Borinquen could was found only by sailing with the Porto Rico Line. Most times, the trip between be called twin ships, or sister ships, bur a New York and San Juan would take 3Y2 discerning observer would notice differdays and was considered a fine cruise. The ences between the two. For example, the minimum fare for the eleven-day round Coamo's bridge was beautifully crafted from trip cost $150. Together, the Coamo and mahogany, and its lifeboats were staggered Borinquen maintained weekly sailings on two boar decks, while the Borinquen's from New York to San Juan and Ciudad bridge was more utilitarian-painted white Trujillo (Santo Domingo) in the nearby steel. Actually, their launch dates were spread apart by five years. SS Coamo was Dominican Republic. The Porto Rico Line was incorpo- built by the Newport News Shipbuilding rated in 1890 and operated twenty-five & Dry Dock Company in Virginia and cargo ships, all registered under a variety set out on her maiden voyage on 7 Januofforeign flags . When Puerto Rico became ary 1926; th e Borinquen was delivered by a United States territory late in 1898, the the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation Porto Rico Line had to dispose of its fl eet in Quincy, Massachusetts, and sailed on
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SEA HISTORY 130, SPRING 20 10