The Fleets
Founded by the Vaccaro Brothers in 1899 the company traded mostly between New Orleans and Honduras and used many chartered ships, in addition to those owned. In 1905 United Fruit Co purchased a half share in Standard Fruit, but was forced to sell it in 1908. In the 1920s, Standard Fruit expanded into other countries and absorbed other companies and continued to prosper, extending routes to the East Coast of the USA. After the war, in the 1950s, it was decided to dispose of owned ships and these were either sold or scrapped, the last ones being withdrawn from service in 1958. However, the company has since continued operating with chartered tonnage.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Company Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alegria | 1903 | ex- Eaton Grove, 1920 purchased from Eaton Hall SS Co, Cardiff, renamed Alegria, 1935 sold to Webster & Son, 1936 sold to Jamaica renamed Allister. | 1,610 |
| Amapala | 1924 | 1942 attacked by U-Boat off Mississippi River, wreck sunk by Coast Guard. | 4,148 |
| Atlantida | 1924 | 1942 requisitioned by War Shipping Administration (WSA), 1946 returned to owners, 1959 scrapped. | 4,191 |
| Caloria | 1906 | ex- Chatham, 1923 purchased from Standard Oil Co, 1942 requisitioned by WSA, 1946 returned to SFC, 1947 scrapped. | 4,095 |
| Cananova | 1920 | 1930 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co, 1939 sold to U.S.S.R renamed Petropavlovsk. | 1,925 |
| Cayo Mambi | 1920 | 1931 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co, 1932 sold to Banana Co of Jamaica. | 1,886 |
| Cefalu | 1930 | 1942 requisitioned by WSA, 1946 returned to SFC, 1958 laid up, 1960 scrapped. | 5,228 |
| Ceiba | 1911 | 1942 sunk by U-Boat off Haiti. | 1,462 |
| Contessa | 1930 | 1942 requisitioned by WSA, 1947 returned to SFC, 1958 sold to Holland renamed Leeuwarden. | 5,522 |
| Erin | 1932 | 1934 purchased from Erin SS Co, UK, various charters to Elders & Fyffes, 1939 under control of Ministry of War Transport, UK, 1947 sold to Elders & Fyffes renamed Manistee. | 5,739 |
| Eros | 1936 | UK flag, 1939 under control of Ministry of War Transport, UK, 1945 Morant SS Co (Elders & Fyffes), 1947 Eros Transp.Co., Halifax, NS.1960 scrapped. | 5,888 |
| Favorita | 1906 | ex- Witiaz, 1921 purchased from Russian Transport & Insurance Co, renamed Favorita, 1935 scrapped. | 1,676 |
| Gatun | 1925 | 1958 laid up, 1960 scrapped. | 3,362 |
| Granada | 1925 | 1958 laid up, 1960 scrapped. | 3,331 |
| Jamaica Merchant | 1911 | 1935 purchased from Jamaica Banana Producers, 1937 scrapped at Trieste. | 7,490 |
| Joseph Vaccaro | 1871 | ex- Lisbonense, 1902 purchased from Booth Line renamed Joseph Vaccaro, UK flag, 1915 sold to Cuyamel Fruit Co renamed Quimistan. | 1,508 |
| Kosmos | 1920 | 1927 renamed Kosmos I, 1936 laid up, 1939 sold to V. O. Reardon renamed Inspiration. | 623 |
| Masaya | 1920 | ex-destroyer USS Dale, 1932 purchased and converted to fruit ship, 1942 sunk by Japanese dive bombers at New Guinea. | 1,174 |
| Matagalpa | 1920 | ex-destroyer USS Osborne, 1932 purchased and converted to fruit ship, 1942 burnt out in Australia. | 1,174 |
| Miraflores | 1921 | 1932 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co, 19th Feb.1942 sunk by U.432 while 50 miles off Cape May, N.J. | 2,158 |
| Morazon | 1908 | 1922 purchased from Booth Line, 1941 sold to Wallem & Co, Hong Kong. | 2,984 |
| Oradell | 1924 | 1934 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co, 1941 sold to Wallem & Co, Hong Kong. | 1,644 |
| Oriskany | 1924 | 1934 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co, 1941 sold to Wallem & Co, Hong Kong. | 1,644 |
| Premier | ? tons, 1900 purchased by Vaccaro Bros, their first steamer. No further info. | na | |
| Princess May | 1888 | 1935 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co, 1936 scrapped. | 1,717 |
| Rosina | 1871 | ex- Paraense, 1904 purchased from Booth Line renamed Rosina, 1916 sold to Cuyamel Fruit Co renamed Omoa. | 1,697 |
| Sama | 1921 | ex- Louis Geraci, 1931 purchased from N. Geraci, Panama renamed Sama, 1938 laid up, 1939 sold to Bahama Shipping Co. | 547 |
| Santo Oteri | 1876 | wooden schooner, 1900 Vaccaro Bros first ship, eventually abandoned to rot on Roatan. | 170 |
| St. Mary | 1921 | 1957 on fire in Mississippi River and beached, laid up and 1959 scrapped. | 2,141 |
| Tabasco | 1919 | ex-destroyer USS Worden, 1932 purchased and converted to fruit ship, 1933 wrecked on Alacran Reef, Mexico. | 1,184 |
| Teapa | 1919 | ex-destroyer USS Putnam, 1931 purchased and converted to fruit ship, 1942 requisitioned by WSA, 1949 sold to H. L. Fraser, Tampa. | 1,184 |
| Tegucigalpa | 1897 | ex- Ingeli, 1910 purchased from J. T. Rennie & Sons renamed Tegucigalpa, 1941 sold to N. Konialidis, Buenos Aires. | 2,928 |
| Truxton | 1901 | 1938 burned at Haiti, wreck sold. | 546 |
| Venus | 1877 | 1906 purchased from United Fruit Co, 1907 sold to W. A. Powell, Belize. | 2,273 |
| Virginia | 1904 | ex- Minadora, 1922 purchased from Stoomvaart Mij. Georgia, Rotterdam renamed Virginia, 1941 sold to Wallem & Co, Hong Kong. | 1,676 |
| Wanks | 1919 | ex- Cayo Mambi, 1925 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co renamed Wanks, 1946 sold to Peru. | 642 |
| Waunta | 1919 | ex- Cayo Cristo, 1933 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co renamed Waunta, 1939 sold to Aguirre & Co renamed Lima. | 642 |
| Wawa | 1925 | 1941 sold to Wallem & Co, Hong Kong. | 1,650 |
| Whipple | 1901 | 1925 purchased from Southern Banana Co, 1939 sold to Bahama SS Co. | 546 |
| Worden | 1901 | 1925 purchased from Southern Banana Co, 1939 sold to Bahama SS Co. | 546 |
| Yoro | 1911 | 1949 sold to H. L. Fraser, Tampa. | 1,462 |
| Yumuri | 1906 | 1931 purchased from Atlantic Fruit Co, 1932 sunk at Alvaro Obregon and became part of breakwater. | 1,271 |
Ships Chartered Before 1910
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braathen | Norwegian, no further details | . | |
| Bergenseren | 1884 | Norwegian | 666 |
| Breifond | 1890 | Norwegian | 421 |
| David | 1873 | American. | 1,338 |
| Duncan | 1871 | Norwegian | 1,031 |
| Helena | No further details | . | |
| John Wilson | Norwegian, see United Fruit Co. | . | |
| Owent | 1878 | Norwegian, | 670 |
| Usk | 1891 | British | 869 |