Merchant seaman like these fellows served the United States with honor during World War II.

The most enduring of APL’s many long-standing relationships is one that figures prominently in national security. The U.S. government has always relied upon its merchant marine in times of crisis. In fact, when Pacific Mail constructed its first steamers, they were built to U.S. Navy specifications so they could be converted to warships if necessary.

During World War II, APL acted as an agent for the War Shipping Administration. The company oversaw such vital war-effort responsibilities as manning, equipping, overhaul and repair, handling of cargo and passengers, and fueling. It also controlled hundreds of Liberty and Victory ships that, along with its own fleet, carried troops and ammunition through hostile waters. APL’s passenger liners evacuated record numbers of refugees from Asia and delivered much-needed raw materials.

More recently, APL managed a number of Ready Reserve ships for the government. A key component of U.S. national defense, the Ready Reserve Fleet is an inactive fleet of former commercial ships that can be ready for duty within five days. These ships were activated during the Gulf War, when APL added another chapter to a long tradition of working closely with the U.S. government.

The Jeremiah O'Brien, one of the many Liberty ships built during World War II.

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