Forerunners and Competitors
Other known companies engaged in United States-Cuba car ferry service are as follows:
The Florida East Coast Car Ferry Company, beginning in 1915, operated a service from Key West, Florida to Havana. After the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed the FEC Key West Extension, service was transferred to Port Everglades. Three ferries were operated until WWII when they were requisitioned by the Navy. The two that survived the war were acquired by the WIF&SS Co. and restored their original names. After the war FEC, did not resume car ferry service.
Seatrain Lines participated in the coasting trade beginning in 1929 hauling railcars between Hoboken, New Jersey, Savannah, Georgia, New Orleans, Louisiana, Havana, Cuba, and Texas City, Texas. In 1953 Seatrain sold its rights and one vessel in the New Orleans to Havana trade to the WIF&SS Co.
Suwannee Trainferry Lines operated at least one ship,the Antonio Maceo, out of Port Everglades to Cuba. The Antonio Maceo had a substantially different configuration than the Great Lakes style ships used by the WIF&SS Co. Very little documentation exists on this company and possibly service did not last for an extended period. Service started some date after WWII.
Read more about this topic: West India Fruit And Steamship Company