The East Asiatic Company's subsidiary Russian American Line began sailing to North America in 1900, continuing until 1917.
[1] With the Russian revolution, Poland and the Baltic states had seceded from Russia and the city of Liepāja (Libau) was in newly independent Latvia.
[2] The Latvia was sold in 1923 to a Japanese shipping company and renamed the Fuso Maru, she was later torpedoed during World War II.
The Baltic America Line offered passenger service between the ports of New York, Hamburg, Danzig, Liepāja and Halifax.
The Danish owners became eager to sell their interests as in 1931 the United States authorities severely reduced immigrant quotas and the line was threatened with bankruptcy.