 "Lurline Burns" was delivered to the War Shipping Administration on 2 February 1942 by the Burns Steamship Company and operated under a United States Army Transportation Corps agreement by Burns Steamship Company as agent until 11 June 1942 when the agent was changed to the Alaska Steamship Company.On 1 March 1943 the operating agent was again changed to the Burns Steamship Company.The ship was purchased by the Navy on 9 June 1943.