Reefer Ship - United Fruit Company Reefer Ships

United Fruit Company Reefer Ships

The United Fruit Company has used some type of reefers often combined with Cruise ship passenger accommodations since about 1889. Because of their cargo was mostly bananas they have been nicknamed the "Banana Fleet". Since bananas are relatively light and the normal shipping route was to Central America and then back to various U.S. ports these ships were often built as combination cargo ships and what are now called Cruise ships to pay for more of their operating expenses. After about 1910 they called their combination cruise ships and refrigerated cargo ships the Great White Fleet. To avoid onerous U.S. shipping regulations and taxes they are registered in about six other countries with very few now maintaining U.S. registry. European associates with their own ships were often employed to ship fruit to Europe. United Brands was taken over by Chiquita Brands International, Cincinnati in the 1980s and owns the largest fleet of banana boats in the world, but none of them now sail under the US flag. The SS Pastores and the SS Calamares were built in Ireland in 1912 and 1913 for the United Fruit Company as a combination Cruise ship and refrigerated cargo ship. The United Fruit Company's fleet of about 85 ships was one of the largest civilian fleets in the world. These ships normally carried up to 95 cruise ship passengers and a crew to ports in Central America and then would return to the United States with passengers and a cargo of refrigerated bananas and miscellaneous cargo. They were part of United Fruit Company's Great White Fleet--to minimize heat build-up the ships were all painted white.

The renamed USS Pastores (AF-16) and the USS Calamares (AF-18) were taken over by the U.S. Navy in World War I and used to haul troops and refrigerated supplies to and from Europe. After hostilities ceased they were returned to United Fruit Company in 1919. They were requisitioned again on 2 June 1941 from the United Fruit Company for use during World War II. After hostilities had ceased they were then returned again to United Fruit Company in 1946.