Bahamas Philately: Eastern Steamship Corporation – S/S Bahama Star

On 10 April 1959, Arosa Line Inc., Panama (Compañía Internacional Transportadora) was declared bankrupt. Their ship, Arosa Star, was sold at public auction for approximately $510,000 by the Eastern Steamship Lines through the McCormick Shipping Corporation, Panama.

She was renamed Bahama Star and placed in service sailing every Monday and Friday from Miami to Nassau. She was refitted with complete air conditioning, 55 cabins with private, partial or shared bathroom and 192 cabins with wash basin only. Public rooms included the main dining room, Star Lounge, Bahama Salon, the Calypso Club and a small game room.

In May 1961, owner Frank L. Fraser had passed full control of the company to William R. Lovett (of Winn-Dixie supermarkets), with the name being changed to Eastern Steamship Corporation. The ship was owned and registered to the Evangeline Steamship Corp., Panama.

The Bahama Star was famous for coming to the rescue of 489 people from the burning SS Yarmouth Castle in 1965, another cruise ship in which 90 people perished. Due to this incident, changes were made to maritime regulations in 1966 outlawing the operation of passenger vessels with wooden super-structures. The cost of complying with the new regulations proved too expensive, so the Bahama Star was sold to the Western Steamship Company in 1968.

The Eastern Steamship Line replaced her with the S/S New Bahama Star.