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British shipping companies (C)

Last modified: 2006-07-08 by rob raeside
Keywords: clyde-mallory | lion (red) | lighthouse | csc | clan line | clarkson | clyde shipping co. |
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Clan Line Steamers

[Clan Line steamer houseflag] by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.

From the website of the National Maritime Museum, "the house flag of Clan Line Steamers Ltd (Cayzer, Irvine & Co., Ltd), London and Glasgow. A rectangular red flag bearing a white diamond with a red rampant diamond in the centre. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting with a linen hoist. It is machine sewn and the design is printed. A rope and two Inglefield clips is attached.

The shipping line was founded in 1878 by Charles Cayzer to run direct passenger steam services between Bombay and the UK via the Suez Canal as Cayzer, Irvine & Co., Liverpool. The company vessels all had names with the prefix 'Clan'. Services were extended to South Africa in 1881 and in the same year the company opened a larger office in Glasgow. Clan Line Steamers Ltd was launched in 1890 and the company extended its routes in the Persian Gulf and to North America - it was by now also carrying cargo. Cayzer Irvine & Co. was incorporated in 1907 but remained in the hands of the Cayzer family.

After the death of Charles Cayzer in 1916, the business was continued by his sons. By the late 1930s it was the biggest cargo carrying concern in the world. The fleet inevitably sustained losses in both world wars. The Thompson Steam Shipping Co. was acquired in 1952. The company changed over to motor ships in the 1950s. With the advent of containerization, the company ran down the shipping side of the business in the early 1980s, having diversified into other business ventures. 'Clan Macgregor' made the final Clan Line voyage in 1981."
Jarig Bakker, 9 August 2004

Larousse Commercial Illustré (1930) shows Clan Line, London: red, a white diamond with a red lion rampant. The diamond's points are about one fifth of flag height away from the flag's edges. The illustration here shows a smaller diamond.
Evans (1959) in 'The Observer's Book of Flags' mentions on p. 188 the "*Clan Line*, whose ships also wear Jacks displaying the respective tartans after which they have been named". Compare, however, with G.H. Watt's comments under 'British and Commonwealth Shipping Co., Ltd.' In any case both agree on a very large diamond, Evans by showing one and Watt in his comments. A similar version here: http://www.merseysideviews.com/Merchant%20Vessels/Clan/index.htm
Jan Mertens, 28 May 2004


H. Clarkson & Co., Ltd.

[H. Clarkson & Co., Ltd. houseflag] by Al Fisher

H. Clarkson & Co. Ltd. The image shown presumably comes from the logo on the company website which is however too small to be clear. The flag, as shown by Stewart 1963 and Loughran 1979 is blue with a white saltire surmounted by a red shield edged white and bearing a yellow "C" [see below].
Neale Rosanoski, 15 June 2004

[H. Clarkson & Co., Ltd. houseflag] by Rob Raeside

From http://www.clarksons.co.uk/history.html, "Since its foundation in 1852 the Clarkson PLC Group ("Clarksons") has grown into one of the world’s largest shipping services groups, employing nearly 300 people including 200 in London.
(.....)
In recent years the group has expanded from its ship-broking origins into a fully integrated shipping services provider covering such activities as research and consultancy, shipping publications, the provision of shipping finance, ship valuations and ship owning activities."

A photo of an actual flag turned up on e-bay in 2005, showing slight difference from the rendering above. I think I've seen the multi-striped flag on the net before, but nowadays the firm's website shows another variant.
Jan Mertens, 11 July 2005


Claymore Shipping Company, Limited

[Claymore Shipping Co. Ltd. houseflag] by Jarig Bakker, 13 December 2004

Based on Wedge 1926 Claymore Shipping Company, Limited, Cardiff - a red burgee; in the center a blue sword (?) passing through white letters "CSC".
Jarig Bakker, 13 December 2004


Cleeves Anthracite Collieries, Ltd.

[Cleeves Anthracite Collieries, Ltd. houseflag] by Jarig Bakker

Cleeves Anthracite Collieries, Limited, Cardiff - white flag, blue "C.W.V."
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign Steamship Companies [Wedge 1926]
Jarig Bakker, 20 February 2005

Cleeves Anthracite Collieries Ltd. Full name Cleeves' Western Vallies Anthracite Collieries Ltd. hence the initials. Became shipowners in 1916 being taken in 1927 by Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Ltd.
Neale Rosanoski, 14 April 2005


Clyde Shipping Company

[Clyde Shipping Company houseflag] by Jarig Bakker

A blue pennon with a lighthouse to hoist and the letters CSC in one line to fly. The lighthouse and letters appear to be white.
James Dignan, 15 October 2003

[Clyde Shipping Company houseflag]

Clyde Shipping Co. Dating from 1815 it originally used a double pennant of [1] yellow edged red except at hoist and bearing a red lion rampant and [2] green edged red except at hoist and bearing a yellow Irish harp though some sources do not show the edgings. The change to the blue pennant with lighthouse and letters is noted by Brown 1926 onwards whilst Brown 1982 and 1995 show it without any lettering indicating a change towards the end of its shipping interests which became towage only which was acquired by Cory Towage in 1995. By 1998 the company had become Clyde Marine plc and today is mainly involved in manufacturing gear for leisure marine craft.
Neale Rosanoski, 14 April 2005

"Flags and Funnels of the British and Commonwealth Merchant Fleets" shows this flag.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 16 June 2006