The Russian-American Line was established in 1900 by the East Asian Company from Copenhagen, known as the Russian-East Asian Steamship Company, for routes between Russia and the Far East. After the Russo-Japanese War, the Hamburg America Line acquired a significant share of this company and in 1906 launched passenger services from Libau to New York, competing with the Russian Volunteer Fleet. Operations ceased in 1917 after the revolution in Russia, and some routes were temporarily taken over by Cunard Line. After the war, their ships either became part of the Baltic-American Line or were sold.