For 80 years Höegh has been a well recognised name in the international shipping industry. Founded in 1927 Leif Høegh found his opportunity in the growing market for oil transportation. By the outbreak of World War II in 1939 Leif Höegh & Co (LHC) managed a fleet of 13 ships and had produced an annual increase in value-adjusted equity of 21% per share. Liner shipping was seen as counter cyclical to tankers and in order to hedge risks the company started its liner activities with the Java Pacific Line. From 1948 Leif Höegh & Co operated the liner operation the West Africa Service, which was ultimately sold out in 1990.