 LASSCO, which announced plans for a $50,000 overhaul and reconditioning of the ship for operation on its Arrow Line intercoastal cargo service, paid ten percent in cash and signed a note for the balance to be paid over the next ten years.On 12 March, LASSCO changed "West Lianga"s port of registry from Seattle to Los Angeles, and on 26 March, announced that the ship had been renamed "Helen Whittier" after the daughter of California oil pioneer Max Whittier.The Code Letters LKQR were allocated.