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Croatia - Houseflags of Shipping Companies (1945-1990)

Last modified: 2005-03-26 by dov gutterman
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From Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia to the Federal Republic of Croatia - Development of House Flags

Browsing the net recently I discovered the site "Ships and Flags" by Josef Nusse at <home.t-online.de/home/josef.nuesse> . The flags article is interesting since it show the changes in house flags that were influenced by the political situation in former Yugoslavia. The article is named "From Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia to the Federal Republic of Croatia - Development of House Flags" . Textually the article is rather short, so I quote it in full:
"In 1991 Croatia within a part of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia proclaimed independence and became the Federative [sic!] Republic of Croatia. A result was the change of logos from shipping companies with residence in Croatia. Especially the 'Red Star' as the symbol of Socialism was removed. Some examples below may give you a short impresson.
- logo changed
- traditional logo (without change)
- new formed company
- quit service."
[The word Federative above is errornous.]

Though the article and it's title mention Croatia only, some companies (so flags too) are actually from Slovenia or Montenegro (FR Yugoslavia, that is), and I'll indicate that as appropriate. Each of the four cathegoris is give one or more examples, illustrated with photos of real flags (not flying!). The first group is by far most interesting, showing the change of
flags of the same company (that in the same time in some cases changed the name more or less).
Željko Heimer, 15 June 2001

One may notice that the flags of various (all state owned) companise of the socialist period were prefferably of this same pattern with star within lozenge, bordered or not, on monocoloured field - in various colour combinations.
Željko Heimer, 24 November 2004


1. Losinjska plovidba - Mali Losinj

As in most other cases the companies were state- (or society-) owned until the end of socialism and then privatized and became "share society" indicated by abbreviation "d.d." after the name.


by Željko Heimer, 15 June 2001

Blue flag with two thin horizontal white stripes and white disk containing a red five-pointed star. Josef shows the star pointing down, but I think that it must be mistake - in all cases the star should be upwards IMHO though I don't have any firm evidence but my "feeling" - the downpointing star was not an usual sight.
Željko Heimer, 15 June 2001

I agree that Josef appears to display his flag upside down  and all other sources agree with this portrayal.
Neale Rosanoski, 3 January 2004

US Navy 1961 shows a completely different flag of a green pennant with a white circle bearing the black letters "LP".
Neale Rosanoski, 10 November 2004

Lošninjska plovidba, Mali Lošinj (Lošninjska plovidba d.d., Mali Lošinj) - The flag is blue with two white thin horizontal stripes in the middle and white disk with red five-pointed star. Similar flag with the star replaced by letters LP is used since 1990. The company for international and coastal transport was established in 1956 included beside shipping also shipbuilding and tourism. In 1986 maintained fleet of 21 merchant ships (including 5 ro-ro ships). In 1962 integraded the company Kvarner (est. 1954).
Sources: Josef Nüsse: Ships and Flags. Pomorski leksikon, Jugoslavenski leksikografski zavod "Miroslav Krleža", Zagreb, 1990.
See also: Modern Housflags (1990-)
Željko Heimer, 20 October 2004


Note: No. 2. Splosna plovba Portoroz (Splosna plovba Portoroz) from Slovenia.


3. Jugoslavenska tankerska plovidba - Zadar


by Željko Heimer, 15 June 2001

The flag was five-striped blue-white-red-white-blue with virtual white square roatated 45 degress with diagonal equal to three stripes cut from the red stripe containing five-pointed red star. The flag is in ratio 3:5~. Here the star is, as expected, pointing upwards.
The company rejected Yugoslav attribute from the name and changed the flag entirely in early 1990's. (See: Tankerska Plovidba).
Željko Heimer, 15 June 2001

Jugotanker, Zadar (Jugoslavenska tankerska plovidba, Zadar) - The flag is five-striped blue-white-red-white-blue with white square lozenge in the middle with red five-pointed star. Established in 1955 in Zadar specialized in liquid cargo (oil) owned 11 tanker ships including two largest in the Yugoslav merchant fleet and over a dozen of lesser cargo ships. In 1962 includes also the company "Zadar".   In early 1990's the company dropped the Yugoslav attribute from the name and changed the flag entirely.
Sources: Josef Nüsse: Ships and Flags.Vladimir Isaic: Pomorski obicaji i tradicije, Adamic, Rijeka, 2001.
Željko Heimer, 21 November 2004


4. Jugoslavenska linijska plovidba - Rijeka


by Željko Heimer, 15 June 2001

Blue flag with white lozenge (a la Brazilian flag) with red five-pointed star in the middle.

Jugolinija, Rijeka (Jugoslavenska linijska plovidba Rijeka) - The flag is blue with white lozenge with red five-pointed star in the middle. The company was established in 1947 with 18 ships, reaching size of 57 ships and over 3000 employees in 1986. In 1949 merged with Jugoslavenska slobodna plovidba. In 1950's over two dozen ships divded to newly formed companies (Splošna plovidba Piran, Jugotanker, Atlantska, Jugooceanija). Since 1992 operates under the name of Croatia Line.
Sources: Josef Nüsse: Ships and Flags. Brown's Flags and Funnels comp. F.J.N. Wedge, 5th edition, Glasgow, Brown, Son & Ferguson, 195x (Thanks to Ian Sumner). Vladimir Isaic: Pomorski obicaji i tradicije, Adamic, Rijeka, 2001. Pomorski leksikon, Jugoslavenski leksikografski zavod "Miroslav Krleža", Zagreb, 1990.
Željko Heimer, 1 November 2004

Brown 1951 [5th edition] shows a red flag with a white diamond throughout bearing a red star though it is changed to a blue field, by all subsequent sources, still with the diamond throughout which seems to be incorrect i.e. should be in line with the version shown. Whether this initial showing by Brown 1951 represents an error or indicates a change is unclear.
Neale Rosanoski, 10 November 2004

The company changed name in 1992 (says Josef Nüsse: Ships and Flags, I think it must have been before) to Croatia Line and adopted a logo-like flag.
Željko Heimer, 15 June 2001

The red flag I have described as shown in Brown 1951 turns out to be a mix up by that publication as it obviously meant to be that of Jugoslavenska slobodna plovidba. Brown has compounded the error by showing the blue flag version of Jugoslavenska Linijska under the heading of Jugoslavenska Slobodna.
Neale Rosanoski, 25 February 2005


The next group of is titled "Traditional logos" that is, here are the house flags that were "ideologically neutral" and continued to be used after 1990's without change. Josef gives three examples (though I am not sure if all three still do exists).

1. Mediteranska plovidba Korcula - Korcula


by Željko Heimer, 16 June 2001

Red flag with blue bordered white lozenge containing golden company initials MP. Ratio 3:5~.
Željko Heimer, 16 June 2001


2. Atlantska plovidba - Dubrovnik


by Željko Heimer, 16 June 2001

Red over blue bicolour, overall an anchor between comany initials AP all white. Ratio 3:5~.
Željko Heimer, 16 June 2001

Atlantska plovidba, Dubrovnik (Atlantska plovidba d.d. Dubrovnik) - The flag is red over blue with white anchor between company initials. Reaching in history to 1880, since 1955 the company was renamed Atlantska plovidba, changing the initials in the flag, and is still leading shipping company in Dubrovnik.
Source: Josef Nüsse: Ships and Flags <home.t-online.de/home/josef.nuesse>.
Željko Heimer, 20 October 2004

Formed in 1955 and noted as the successor to Dubrovaèka plovidba, the company history from their website <www.atlant.hr>   shows that this was not a direct change there being a gap of 8 years between the nationalization of the one into Jugolinija and the formation of Atlantska following pressure for the decentralization of the shipping industry.
Neale Rosanoski
, 10 November 2004


3. Slobodna plovidba Sibenik - Sibenik


by Željko Heimer, 22 November 2004

Blue flag with white stylized letter S (with hatchek).
Željko Heimer, 16 June 2001


And, finally the last part are those companies that quit service. Actually I am not sure that it is quite correct - they might have changed names (and owners etc.) in the mean time and maybe it is not easy to see the direct sucessors. For one I have already suggested a possibility, while the other two are from Montenegro, and even maybe they are not much present in international shipping (no doubt, due to the international sactions imposted to Yugoslavia) they, or then sucessor companies might well emerge sooner or latter. But, I would guess that they would be dropping their stars, too.

1. Jugoslavenska oceanska plovidba Kotor (also known as Jugooceanija) (Montenegro).

2. Jadranska linijska plovidba - Rijeka


by Željko Heimer, 16 June 2001

White flag with red bordered voided lozenge with red five-pointed star. Ratio 3:5~. Josef show this flag with star pointing downwards. I believe that it is wrong.
Željko Heimer, 16 June 2001

Also known as the Adriatic Line, officially changed name 1991 to Jadrolinija (by which it had previously been known) according to Lloyds although initially they showed it as first Jadrolinja P.O. and then as Javno Poduzece "Jadrolinja" P.O.. Again the original source image appears to have been upside down but even more interesting is that other sources (Stewart and Brown) show the diamond frame as being wholly throughtout the flag and coloured blue, not red.
Neale Rosanoski, 3 January 2004

Jadrolinija, Rijeka (Jadranska Linijska Plovidba - Rijeka) - The flag is white with red voided lozenge and red five-pointed star. In 1990 the company entirely changed the visual identity.   The company was known also as Adriatic Line and Javno Poduzece "Jadrolinja" P.O. It was established in 1947 after nationalization of the company Jadranska plovidba of Sušak. In 1986 owing 49 ships (14 cruisers, 31 coastal ferries and 4 internetional ferries). In 1996 organized as an action society, in the 2001 operating 48 ships and over 1,500 employees. See Jadrolinija (1990-).
Sources: Josef Nüsse: Ships and Flags. Brown's Flags and Funnels comp. F.J.N. Wedge, 5th edition, Glasgow, Brown, Son & Ferguson, 195x (Thanks to Ian Sumner). Brown's Flags and Funnels comp. F.J.N. Wedge, 6th edition, Glasgow, Brown, Son & Ferguson, 1958. (Thanks to Ian Sumner). Vladimir Isaic: Pomorski obicaji i tradicije, Adamic, Rijeka, 2001. Hrvatska Enciklopedija, Leksikografski zavod "Miroslav Krleža", 2003. Pomorski leksikon, Jugoslavenski leksikografski zavod "Miroslav Krleža", Zagreb, 1990.
Željko Heimer, 1 November 2004

Note: No 3 is Prekookeanska plovidba Bar (Montenegro).


Dubrovaèka plovidba - Dubrovnik


by Željko Heimer, 20 October 2004

Dubrovaèka plovidba, Dubrovnik (Dubrovaèka Plovidba A.D. Dubrovnik) - The flag is horizontally divided in red over blue with an ancorh in the middle between letters DP. The flag is virtually the same as the pre-WWII Dubrovaèka parobrodska plovidba. I think that this may just be an older flag showing in a newer book, not unusual. However, it might have been used until 1955.
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels comp. F.J.N. Wedge, 5th edition, Glasgow, Brown, Son & Ferguson, 195x (Thanks to Ian Sumner).
Željko Heimer, 20 October 2004

According to the Atlantska Plovidba website <www.atlant.hr>, the name was changed in 1938 from Dubrovacka Parobrodska  Plovidba a.d, so the flag would have applied until 1947 when, to quote from the website “Only nine ships (42.000 GRT) out of the 200.000 GRT fleet "survived" the II World War and convoy assignments. By decision of post war Yugoslav authorities these nine ships, along with the remaining Yugoslav merchant fleet, were nationalised and allotted to the centralised Yugoslav company "Jugolinija" based in Rijeka”, the company Jujolinija being at that time named Jugoslavenska Linijsaka Plovidba.
Neale Rosanoski
, 10 November 2004


Korculansko-pelješka plovidba - Korcula


by Željko Heimer, 22 November 2004

Today - Mediteranska plovidba d.d., Korcula - The company was established 1955 as Korculansko-pelješka plovidba. Specialized in refrigerated freight in the international navigation but also tourist and cargo coastal shipping. In 1986 owned 9 ships. The flag was similar to the current one with the white lozenge containing a red star instead of the initials.
Sources: Josef Nüsse: Ships and Flags. Vladimir Isaic: Pomorski obicaji i tradicije, Adamic, Rijeka, 2001. My observation and photos of ships on Adriatic, summer 2004.
Željko Heimer, 22 November 2004


Jadranska slobodna - Rijeka


by Željko Heimer, 1 November 2004

This was originally the Jugoslav company Jadranska Slobodna Plovidba [also known as Adriatic Tramp Shipping , JSP Line and Jadroslobodna] using a black flag with a white diamond throughout bearing a red star. In 1992 it changed name to Jadroplov International Maritime Transport on coming under Croatia.
Neale Rosanoski, 3 January 2004

Jadranska slobodna, Rijeka (Jadranska slobodna plovidba Rijeka) - The flag is black with white lozenge throughout containing a red five- pointed star. The company was known also as Adriatic Tramp Shipping, JSP Line and Jadroslobodna, and today is headquartered in Split as Jadroplov International Maritime Transport. It was established in 1947 after nationalization of the company Jadranska plovidba of Sušak. Started with 29 wooden ships. In 1962 integrated company Opca plovidba (General shipping) of Split. Maintained several high seas lines, operating 16 ships in 1986. In 1996 organized as an action society, in the 2001 operating 48 ships and over 1,500 employees.
Sources: Brown's Flags and Funnels comp. F.J.N. Wedge, 5th edition, Glasgow, Brown, Son & Ferguson, 195x (Thanks to Ian Sumner). Pomorski leksikon, Jugoslavenski leksikografski zavod "Miroslav Krleža", Zagreb, 1990.
Željko Heimer, 1 November 2004


Jugoslavenska slobodna - Rijeka


by Željko Heimer, 1 November 2004

Jugoslavenska slobodna, Rijeka (Jugoslavenska slobodna plovidba Rijeka) - The flag is red with white lozenge throughout containing a red five-pointed star.   State owned company established in 1947 in Sušak (Rijeka) with 14 ships, merged with Jugolinija in 1949. An other company of the same name was established in 1961 in Ploce (Kardeljevo) with 3 ships, merged with Šibenska plovidba in 1963.   The above flag must be of the 1947-49 company.
Sources: Brown's Flags and Funnels comp. F.J.N. Wedge, 5th edition, Glasgow, Brown, Son & Ferguson, 195x (Thanks to Ian Sumner).
Željko Heimer, 1 November 2004


Splitska plovidba - Split


by Željko Heimer, 21 November 2004

Splitska plovidba, Split - The flag is blue with a red five-pointed star within a white ring. The company operated 9 cargo ships in the international and coastal shipping in 1981. The company was established in 1949 as Oblasno brodarsko poduzece (Regional shipping company) "Split" with 30 wooden ships, renamed in 1951 to Obalna plovidba (Coastal shipping) and finally in 1981 to Splitska plovidba.
Sources: Vladimir Isaic: Pomorski obicaji i tradicije, Adamic, Rijeka, 2001. Pomorski leksikon, Jugoslavenski leksikografski zavod "Miroslav Krleža", Zagreb, 1990.
Željko Heimer, 21 November 2004


Oceania - Sušak


by Željko Heimer, 21 November 2004

Oceania, Sušak (Brodarsko Akcionarsko Društvo "Oceania" Sušak) - The flag is red with white letter O in the middle. The company with headquarters in Trieste and Sušak was established in 1917 by joining of numerous small shipping societies along the eastern Adriatic coast. After the World War was granted entirely to Yugoslavia. In World War II lost most of its 12 ships. Liquidated in 1947.
Sources: Brown's Flags and Funnels? comp. F.J.N. Wedge, 5th edition, Glasgow, Brown, Son & Ferguson, 195x (Thanks to Ian Sumner) Pomorski leksikon, Jugoslavenski leksikografski zavod "Miroslav Krleža", Zagreb, 1990.
Željko Heimer, 21 November 2004