Steamship

When we think of Cuba, we picture the things we heard about but never saw - the sensuous Havana of the '50s, where Frank Sinatra sang at the Tropicana and Ernest Hemingway dined at El Floridita. Combine these feelings of nostalgia with America's obsession for everything Latin - from the first Latin Grammy awards to Cuban coffee - and it was only a matter of time before interior design caught Cuban fever. "Americans have always been fascinated with Cuba because there is a certain mystique about it," said Jackie Hirschhault, vice president of public relations for the American Furniture Manufacturers Association.

Ramsay, Scarlett & Co. Inc., one of Baltimore's oldest steamship agencies, has moved its corporate headquarters from South St. to the newly renovated space in the Equitable Bank Building at 10 N. Calvert St.Ramsay, Scarlett Travel, a full-service travel agency, accompanied its parent company in the move.Ramsay, Scarlett, which had operated from its own building for 20 years, sold the 20,000-square-foot building last spring.The firm now occupies 4,647 square feet in the Equitable building's lobby level in space that formerly housed the Alex.

IN HER 97 years in Baltimore, I never met Ella Reeves Clotsworthy. I wish I had. This remarkable person is one of the cast of characters who figure in the recently published memoir of lawyer, horseman, world traveler and storyteller Charles B. Reeves Jr. Sprat Reeves, as so many people know him, included his Aunt Ella's story in the book he's called "Carpe Diem." Born in Baltimore, Ella Reeves grew up in dignified Victorian style in a Charles Street home opposite the Maryland Club. She married C. Baker Clotsworthy, who died before this little story begins.

Graveside services for Robert E. Herd, retired president of a steamship agency and stevedoring company, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Druid Ridge Cemetery, Old Court Road and Park Heights Avenue.Mr. Herd, who was 77 and moved to St. Simons Island, Ga., nine years ago, died Oct. 27 of a respiratory illness at a hospital in Brunswick, Ga.He retired in 1978 as president of Robert C. Herd & Co., which had been started by his father.Mr. Herd was president of the Steamship Trade Association in 1960 and 1961.

Capt. Steven M. Moodie, a World War II Liberty shipmaster who later became president of the Baltimore-based Calmar Steamship Corp., died of lung cancer March 6 at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Towson resident was 82. With his closely cut silver hair and ruddy complexion, Captain Moodie seemed to be the embodiment of an experienced old salt. He was born in Dundee, Scotland, into a seafaring family. His father was a steamship captain, and an uncle had been master of the famed British clipper ship Cutty Sark, which was built in 1869.

A new steamship line consortium that port officials have been trying to lure to Baltimore has decided to keep sending its ships to the Philadelphia area instead, but Baltimore may still stand a chance of winning the line's business.Senator Line, a German company, has aligned with Cho Yang Line, a South Korean company, and DSR Line, based in Germany. The consortium, known as Tricom, will allow the new group to expand Senator's around-the-world service, starting early next year. Baltimore has been competing with other East Coast ports for inclusion on Tricom's schedule.

Puerto Rico Marine Management Inc., operator of one of the most important steamship lines at the port of Baltimore, is considering schedule changes that could divert a substantial amount of cargo to other ports.PRMMI operates Navieras de Puerto Rico, which is owned by the Puerto Rican government. The company, which is among the top six lines at the port, is one of four that uses the state's new high-tech Seagirt Marine Terminal near Dundalk.Under the current schedule, a Navieras ship leaves Baltimore each Saturday and sails directly to San Juan, Puerto Rico, arriving there Tuesdays.

Bruce Page Wilson, former president of Mercantile-Safe Deposit & Trust Co., who earlier had been president of the old Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad, died July 5 of complications from a stroke at Nubbin Ridge, his Green Spring Valley home, where he had lived for more than half a century. He was 92. "Bruce Wilson was a very strong and ethical person. He had it all," said H. Grant Hathaway, former chairman and chief executive officer of the old Equitable Trust Bank. "He was ... a terrific competitor.

WHAT A VICTORY for Baltimore. No, not the football championship. We're talking about Baltimore's massive deal with the world's leading roll-on/ roll-off shipping company. It's a maritime comeback of Super Bowl proportions, one that makes Baltimore the dominant force among East Coast ports when it comes to "ro/ro" vehicles -- cars, trucks and farm equipment. Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the giant Scandinavian steamship line, now will make Baltimore its largest North American "load center." More than 600,000 tons of cargo per year are expected to pass through its hub at Dundalk Marine Terminal, enough to create 1,000 more jobs on the waterfront.

For the Steamship Trade Association, moving to Fells Point has been a bit like coming home.The maritime business organization, which had previously occupied downtown offices at 32 South St., returned to its roots recently by moving to the Swann's Wharf building in the 900 block of Fell Street.The association is holding an open house on July 17 at its new offices near the waterfront.The move follows a trend for some businesses to move away from the downtown area to locations nearer marine terminals.