Last modified: 2006-02-25 by dov gutterman
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image by Jarig Bakker, 14 January 2005
Nav. Generale Gerolomich & Co., Trieste - red flag, white
diamond, black "G".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign
Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26].
Jarig Bakker, 14 January 2005
image by Jorge Candeias, 24 Febuary 1999
Dark red over dark blue with a white stripe separating the two
main fields and a white "G" over all. The "G"
is very similar in shape to those of Grimaldi. Perhaps a member
of the Grimaldi Group?
Jorge Candeias, 24 Febuary 1999
From Fratelli Grimaldi formed in 1947 has come the Grimaldi Group operating in two divisions based
in Genoa and Naples respectively. Included in the former is
Gilnavi Società di Navigazione S.r.l. Indications are that the
various companies have differing liveries but in this case the
logo used appears to have come from the agency company Sealine
S.a.r.l.. whereas that indicated by the company website is for a
swallowtail horizontal biband of ordinary red over dark blue with
the white "G" as shown. This "G" format also
figures in some of the other liveries with a logo for Grimaldi
Group suggesting a dark blue swallowtailed flag with a white
"GG" on it, whilst Brown 1995 shows a blue ordinary
flag with a single white "G" for Grimaldi Compagnia di
Navigazione S.p.A. which appears to be a member of the Naples
division (company website) although itself based in Genoa
(according to Lloyds). Going by the funnel of the latter company
their shade of blue is lighter than the other variations.
Neale Rosanoski, 11 April 2003
image by Jarig Bakker, 11 July 2004
At <www.omniainformatica.it>
there is an houseflag for
this company.
Jan Mertens, 31 October 2003
Horizontal BWB with in the center the company logo: capital M
superimposed by a long C, both red.
Jarig Bakker, 11 July 2004
image by Jarig Bakker, 11 July 2004
The flag of this company can be seen in the company site.
Dov Gutterman, 23 January 1999
Previous Flag (?)
image by Jarig Bakker, 10 December 2005
Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione S.p.A., Genoa - blue flag,
white italic "G" (just the one G, perhaps predecessor
of the one above with two G's).
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of
the World, compiled by J.L. Loughran, Glasgow, 1995.
Jarig Bakker, 10 December 2005
image by Jorge Candeias, 11 Febuary 1999
image by Jarig Bakker, 1 September 2005
I believe that this is an italian company. The flag is a red
triangle with a white cross throughout and a black shield in the
center of the cross containing what seemed to be a 5-pointed
star. The original picture was too small, so I'm not at all sure
about the exact shape and charges of the shield (particularly the
shape above).
Jorge Candeias, 11 Febuary 1999
The company is based in Genoa, so it is Italian company. The
image is based on <www.informare.it>.
Dov Gutterman, 11 Febuary 1999
The company website shows an image of the houseflag being a
red pennent with a white cross surmounted by the black letter
logo "CM". The image displayed from the company website
has these letters replaced by a panel of the funnel i.e. black
with a white band above a white star. I can find nothing to
indicate that this is an actual flag or has replaced the other
and it appears to be merely a navigating button for their
website. The company have not responded to a query on this
matter.
Neale Rosanoski, 18 September 2002
Ignazio Messina & Cia., S.p.A., Genoa - red burgee, white
cross; in center intertwined "CM".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of
the World, compiled by J.L. Loughran, Glasgow, 1995.
Jarig Bakker, 1 September 2005
image by Jorge Candeias, 4 March 1999
Unequal vertical tricolour of green white and red. The green
stripe bears the initials "RR" in white, the white
stripe (the narrower) bears something very similar to the
portuguese Coat of Arms ,a yellow circular device with holes
charged by a white shield with red border. The original picture
was too small to see clearly, but something seemed to be in the
shield. The red stripe (the wider) bears the initials
"ISI" in white.
Jorge Candeias, 4 March 1999
Rimorchiatori Riuiti International Shipping & Investments
Ltda formed in 1999 is the full name being a subsidiary of the
Rimorchiatori Riuiti S.p.A. group through Portunato & Co.
S.r.l..
Neale Rosanoski, 11 April 2003
image by Jarig Bakker, 19 February 2005
Soc. di Nav. a Vap. Istria, Trieste - blue flag, white
diamond, blue "S.I.T.".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign
Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26]
Jarig Bakker, 19 February 2005
image by James Dignan , 13 December 1997
"Italian Line" (probably wrong)
image by Al Fisher , 1 Febuary 1999
Houseflag of "Italia" Societa Anonima di
Navigazione.
James Dignan, 13 December 1997
"Italia di Navigazione Srl" is one of the partners
in MPE.
Dov Gutterman, 31 July 1999
Stewart shows spear as being white.
Al Fisher, 1 Febuary 1999
Italia di Navigazione Srl and the Italian Line are one and the
same. Originating 1932 as Italia Flotte Riunite it was part of
the 1936 Italian Government reorganisation becoming from 1.1.1937
Società per Azione di Navigazione Italia and eventually ended
as Italia di Navigazione S.p.A. The flag combines those of
Genoa and Trieste with the latter emblem being a
"ranseur" or spear head. No other source suggests that
the spear was ever yellow.
Neale Rosanoski, 11 April 2003
Due to the 'thirties Depression, various Italian shipping
companies were united into a big concern. From The Ships
List, an overview <www.theshipslist.com>:
"In 1932, due to the depression and widespread unemployment
of Italian ships, the major Italian shipping companies were
combined into one state controlled syndicate under the name
Societa Italia Flotte Reuniti NGI - Lloyd Sabaudo - Cosulich. By
1937 this concern had made rapid recovery and repaid the
Government bonds which had supported it. It was then changed into
a Limited Company under the name Italia Societa Anonima di
Navigazione. Lloyd Triestino was incorporated into the new
company. A new holding company (FINMARE) was formed and created
four self contained shipping companies:
ADRIATICA based in Trieste to serve the Adriatic and comprised
Adriatica di Nav., Fiumana and Lloyd Triestino's local services.
TIRRENIA based in Naples served the Tyrrhenian Sea and comprised
Adria, Tirrenia and Sarda.
LLOYD TRIESTINO based Genoa which covered Africa and the Far
East. Comprised Lloyd Triestino, Libera Triestina, Italia Flotte
Reuniti's non North and South American routes plus Veneziana.
ITALIA to cover North and South America and comprised Italia
Flotte Reuniti, Cosulich, Libera Triestina and Veneziana.
In 1940 most Italian ships were taken over for military service
and by 1945, few were left afloat. The fleet was gradually
rebuilt but from 1960 the rising popularity of air travel
signalled the gradual decline of the passenger ships and they
were eventually switched to cruising. By 1977 all long distance
passenger travel had ceased, although many cargo ships continued
to carry a few passengers. A cruising company was set up (Italia
Crociere Internazionali) to employ the remaining passenger
vessels but ceased trading in 1980. Italia continued as a
freighting company, mostly with second hand or chartered
container ships and still operates, but in private
ownership."
Jan Mertens, 29 December 2003
image by Jarig Bakker, 19 August 2004
From the link provided by Barbara Tomlinson of The National
Maritime Museum <www.nmm.ac.uk>:
"The house flag of the Italia Societa Anonima di
Navigazione, Genoa. In this example the design appears to be
reversed. It combines the St George's Cross of Genoa with the
arms of Trieste, represented by a white halberd on a red field.
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
is attached. The major Italian shipping lines were
nationalized under the holding company, Societa Finanziaria
Industriale Italiana in 1932 as a result of the depression. In
1936 the fleet was split into four divisions each serving an
agreed geographical area. Italia commenced operations the
following year on routes to North and South America. By the end
of the 1960s Italia's prestigious passenger liners were becoming
unprofitable owing to the competition from air transport and the
company switched its operations to freight. It is now in private
ownership as part of the Fratelli D'Amico Armatori Societa per
Azioni, Genoa."
It is possible that the Museum got it wrong, as it seems to be
the flag of Lloyd Triestino...
Jarig Bakker, 19 August 2004
image by Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
image by Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
From <www.timetableimages.com>:
'Italia' Società di Navigazione a Vapore, Genoa. As it happens,
the on-line 1912 Lloyds Flags & Funnels has a nice clear
picture i.e. No. 1197 on (the electronic) p. 58 at <www.mysticseaport.org>:
yellow, a black cross throughout, a blue canton bearing a white
six-pointed star which in its turn bears what appears to be a red
mirrored figure '6'. Then, of course, it may well be a
handwritten uppercase 'I'. The card on <planeta.terra.com.br>,
however, shows a fimbriated cross.
More on this firm at planeta
site: founded in 1899 but under the control of the German
Hamburg-America Line which then (1906) moved to the Navigazione
Generale Italiana; becoming a de facto branch of this firm in
1917, sharing its fortunes from then on.
Jan Mertens, 14 July 2004
Italia Società di Navigazione à Vapore - Bonsor describes
the flag as having a blue cross so if it were a dark blue shade,
as also with the canton, it would fit in with the planeta site
image where the two do seem to be a similar colour and it would
explain the fimbriation of the cross. Bonsor calls the letter an
"I" which has to logical though it reminds me more of a
written "T", and makes no mention of the Lloyds
version.
Neale Rosanoski, 22 July 2004
image by Ivan Sache, 25 March 2001
The houseflag of the Italian shipping company 'Italian
Transporti Maritimi' is a white field with a St. George's cross
and a green star in canton. I suspect the company is (or was
originally) based in Genoa because of the St. George's cross.
Source: Znamierowski [zna00],
p. 245.
Ivan Sache, 25 March 2001
Full name is Compagnia Italiana Transporti Marittima S.A. and
it was based Genoa. Known as CITMAR it appears to have
ceased trading in the early 1970s.
Neale Rosanoski, 11 April 2003
image by Jarig Bakker, 19 February 2005
La Creola Soc. Anon., Genoa - Green-red-white-red-green
burgee; on white: black "LA CREOLA".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign
Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26]
Jarig Bakker, 19 February 2005
image by Jarig Bakker, 18 December 2004
Societá Anonima di Navigazione "La Sicania",
Trapani - blue flag, over all white diamond charged with red
"S"; in all corners a white 6-pointed star.
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign
Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26]
Jarig Bakker, 18 December 2004
The history of this shipping company here (with image of house
flag) at <www.theshipslist.com>:
"La Veloce Linea di Navigazione Italiana a Vapore was
founded in 1884 to run services between Italy and South America
(...). The company was taken over in 1883 by M. Bruzzi & Co
who formed La Veloce. (...) The firm of Fratelli Lavarello
(...) was taken over together with their fleet in 1891. In 1900
Italian banks and Navigazione Generale Italiana
commenced buying out German shareholders and by 1901 the company
was effectively controlled by NGI and the official name became La
Veloce Navigazione Italiana a Vapore. La Veloce was absorbed into
NGI in 1924 and was liquidated as a seperate company." A
slightly bigger picture (is this St George slaying the dragon on
this Genoan firm's flag?) here: <planeta.terra.com.br>
and lower on the same page, another poster showing it.
Jan Mertens, 22 December 2003
Acording to Mystic Seaport: Lloyd's Book of House Flags and
Funnels at <www.mysticseaport.org>,
I believe I can confirm tha this is St George slaying the dragon,
although the design is still rather small (a line drawing, not
coloured). It's flag no. 1249 on p. 61 of chapter "House
Flags and Funnels of Steam Vessels".
Jan Mertens, 22 December 2003
image by Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
From <www.timetableimages.com>:
Flotta Lauro (or Lauro Lines), Naples: a blue swallowtail bearing
a white five-pointed star.
At <planeta.terra.com.br>,
More blue swallowtails here, together with a short history (in
Italian: I understand the firm began business as a cargo shipper
in 1912 and, going bankrupt in 1980, was sold off to the
Mediterranean Shipping Company).
Jan Mertens, 14 July 2004
Brown (1951) list this as "Achille Lauro, Naples".
Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
image by Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
From Brown (1951) - Lauro & Montella, Naples - I guess
this is related: blue with a yellow diamond, charged with blue
letters turned L - M - L.
Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
image by Jarig Bakker, 1 September 2005
Rimorchiatori Laziali S.p.A., Rome - white flag, blue
fly-diagonal; in top hoist blue "R", in fly bottom blue
"L".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of
the World, compiled by J.L. Loughran, Glasgow, 1995.
Jarig Bakker, 1 September 2005
"Rimorchiatori" are tugboats (in French,
"remorqueurs"). "Laziali" might be the
adjective form of "Lazio", Latium.
Ivan Sache, 2 September 2005
image by Jarig Bakker, 11 July 2004
Emblem
image from <www.lnianzio.org>
From the Maritime Timetable Images, this 1933 poster of the
Lega Navale Italiana <www.timetableimages.com>
showing a flag or pennant with a cross throughout and an emblem
centrally on that cross, featuring a crowned anchor, a star, a
fasces, an ornamental letter L and a band bearing the words 'Mare
Nostrum' (Our Sea, as the Romans said). The flag's field
may have been blue and the cross white as in the picture.
Apparently this last entity still exists, only the emblem has
understandably been changed <www.lnianzio.org> with the
words 'Lega Navale Italiana' on the band and ornamental letters
LNI on a disk. Anchor, stars and letters yellow (or gold),
band white with dark blue letters and disk light blue.
As a bonus, what appears to be the LNI's burgee: dark blue
pennant with white cross throughout and the emblem centrally on
the cross (in white, blue and gold).
LNI history (in Italian) at <www.leganavale.it>.
Founded in 1897. Left of text, a 1938 picture
(pennant). This chief site's emblem has gold letters and a
rather dark blue disk.
Jan Mertens, 29 December 2003
image by Jarig Bakker, 5 January 2006
Navigazione Libera del Golfo, S.r.l. (Vessels operating from
Sorrento), Naples - blue flag, in top hoist white 5-pointed star;
at fly a white standing ladder with 6 rungs.
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of
the World, compiled by J.L. Loughran, Glasgow, 1995.
Jarig Bakker, 5 January 2006
image by Jarig Bakker, 18 December 2004
Libera Giovanni Racich, Trieste - blue flag, white standing
anchor, charged with white "R".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign
Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26]
Jarig Bakker, 18 December 2004
This also soud like Italinization of a Slavic name Ivan Racic
(as was usual at the time), so quite possibly the company
originated on the easter Adriatic coast (where Trieste was one of
the most important ports after all). However, I have not found
any reference to Racic in my files.
eljko Heimer, 18 December 2004
image by Jarig Bakker, 24 January 2005
Lloyd del Pacifico, Savona - white flag, blue anchor; in
canton horizontal RWR stripes; in fly-bottom red "Z".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign
Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26].
Jarig Bakker, 24 January 2005
A house flag from a shipping company in Genoa. I've come
across: <planeta.terra.com.br>.
Dates given 1904-1918, and some history here at <www.theshipslist.com>:
" The Lloyd Italiano Line was formed in Genoa in 1904 by
Erasmo Piaggio to operate passenger services to North and South
America. The company came under the control of Navigazione
Generale Italiana in 1911 and became completely absorbed in
1918."
The company flag is blue with a white diamond touching the flag's
edges but... exactly what emblem is in the centre? Could it
be like the watermarks i.e. initials and an anchor? Does
anyone have a clue?
Jan Mertens, 22 December 2003
Acording to Mystic Seaport: Lloyd's Book of House Flags and
Funnels at <www.mysticseaport.org>,
The flag in question is no. 1554 on p. 75 of the steam vessel
chapter. Emblem on white diamond: blue disk with initials LIL
(the first one in mirror-image), said disk encircled by yellow
laurel branches (?) and a yellow anchor placed behind same disk.
Jan Mertens, 22 December 2003
To be more exact, as there was an earlier company this name
[no flag known], this one was Lloyd Italiano Società di
Navigazione. My copy of Lloyds 1912 does not give a clear image
as far as the letters are concerned and they look to be white.
According to Bonsor the flag was blue, there was a large white
diamond and the charge was a yellow anchor surmounted by a blue
circle bearing the yellow letters "LI" and I have in my
notes a similar record which is unfortunately not sourced.
Certainly the letters seem more logical thought the diamond seems
more likely to be throughout going by the <planeta.terra.com.br>
image. Bonsor does not mention any surrounding leaves but Lloyds
is certainly clear on this point. Consequently my guess is a
combination of the sources. See here.
Neale Rosanoski, 22 July 2004
If you look at the filigrane of the document in the link
provided by Neale, you see that the letters are (mirrored L) - I
- L (the 'scontrino' part shows it even better). But during
checking I landed on this nearby page, showing a Lloyd Italiano?
flag on a 1910 menu: horizontal VWV, bearing some emblem: <planeta.terra.com.br>.
According to 'The Ships List' website, the firm was founded in
1904, taken over in 1911 by the Navigazione Generale Italiana and
absorbed in 1918: <www.theshipslist.com>.
So perhaps the former house flag has really come to light. The
point in time seems to bolster my little theory, but we need
clearer pictures for that!
Jan Mertens, 23 July 2004
image by Ivan Sache, 9 November 2003
Lloyd Sardegna Compagnia di Navigazione S.r.l. was formed in
1990 and is the shipowning subsidiary of Compagnia Sarda di
Navigazione Marittima S.r.l. which in turn is a subsidiary of
Marsano Armatori S.a.s. who were once directly involved in
shipping and flew a white flag with a red cross (Genoa based)
with the fesse point towards the hoist and a blue "M"
surmounting the sinister arm of the cross.
Neale Rosanoski, 11 April 2003
Lloyd Sardegna (Genoa - Livorno) - White flag with a blue
cross, a red letter L in the first quarter and a red letter S in
the fourth quarter.
Ivan Sache, 9 November 2003
image by Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
image by Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
At home I have a stout "Larousse Commercial
Illustré" (a kind of trade encyclopedia) published in
Paris, 1930. It has four pages in colour illustrating house
flags; a note identifies it as the work of Sandy Hook.
In this book, I found Lloyd Sabaudo, Genova: white, in the centre
the characteristic Savoy eagle in blue bearing a red oval shield
on the breast and a yellow... speck... over its head. Not
very detailed I'm afraid.
On this Italian page however, see the last image: <planeta.terra.com.br>
bearing in mind that here, the eagle looks the other way whereas
here: <cgi.ebay.de>
it's in the same position as Sandy Hook draws it. It is
clear that the 'speck' is meant to be the royal Italian crown,
even if the actual house flag was not all that detailed. But on
the net we also find a completely different flag, albeit borne by
an eagle: <213.4.130.98>
i.e. diagonally divided from tophoist corner to lower fly, white
and green (green uppermost), a black monogram LS on the white
triangle. This menu dating from 1910, may we suppose that
the more patriotic flag S.H. shows was introduced after WWI?
Jan Mertens, 20 December 2003
Lloyd Sabaudo, Soc. Anon. per Azioni, Genoa. In Loughran's
Survey of Mercantile Houseflags and Funnels is a ridiculous
image: white with a blue eagle with a red triangular escutcheon
and on top of the eagle a red crown in thin air. That image has
precious little to do with the eagle on the postcards Jan Mertens
mentioned. I found a brilliant flag at <digilander.libero.it>
a military flag in a museum "Piemonte Sabaudo". That
flag is far too intricate for me, but it's good enough to model
for my upper image. Second image based on Loughran, 1979.
Jarig Bakker, 14 July 2004
Formed in 1906 it merged in 1932 into what eventually became
Italia di Navigazione S.p.A. According to Bonsor the original
flag of the green and white diagonal biband was changed in 1914
to that of white with the eagle of Savoy and a yellow crown,
there being a close association with the Royal House of that
name. All of the shipping sources agree that the eagle is blue
and in design basically conforms with that shown on the planeta
site rather than the military source shown here.
Neale Rosanoski, 22 July 2004
image by Jorge Candeias, 12 Febuary 1999
A very dark red and white vertical bicolour, the red part
charged with a skinny fleur-de-lys and the white part charged
with a very dark red cross throughout.
Jorge Candeias, 12 Febuary 1999
Original of Lloyd Triestino di Navigazione S.P.A flag from
http://www.lloydtriestino.it (defunct) can be seen here.
Dov Gutterman, 2 Febuary 1999
Lloyd Triestino di Navigazione S.p.A. originated 1833 as Lloyd
Austriaco which entered shipping in 1836 and was variously known
as Austrian Lloyd, Osterreichischer Lloyd, Austro Hungarian Lloyd
Steam Navigation Co. or Austrian Lloyds Steam Navigation Co. A
similar variation is shown with its flag with the colour blue
being consistent but the yellow charge being either a foul anchor
topped with a bishop's style crown placed erect, the charge
placed diagonally per bend or placed vertical with a more
elaborate crown and being above a yellow scroll inscribed
"VORWÆRTS". In 1919 it became Lloyd Triestino and
switched from Austria to Italy. The first flag under this name
was blue with in the canton a coronet above a foul anchor placed
diagonally per bend and in lower fly the half spear with all
charges being white although Brown 1929 reverses the flag.
However it seem unlikely that charges would be placed in upper
fly and lower hoist. One source states that this flag was used
until 1935 but this is a bit suspect as Brown 1934 shows the
current flag which is the reverse of Italia di Navigazione Srl
with the same derivations.
Neale Rosanoski, 11 April 2003
At home I have a stout "Larousse Commercial
Illustré" (a kind of trade encyclopedia) published in
Paris, 1930. It has four pages in colour illustrating house
flags; a note identifies it as the work of Sandy Hook.
In this book, I found LLoyd Triestino, Trieste: blue with two
emblems, both white: tophoist corner: combined anchor + letters
'L' and 'T', crowned; lower fly, corner: a spearhead, such as in
the city's Coat of Arms.
A 1928 picture of the flag here: <www.timetableimages.com>
and a photo (at least I think so) here: <www.lloydtriestino.it>.
These emblems' respective positions on the flag are unlikely, as
Neale Rosanoski remarked, but it must have been so nevertheless;
the flag's dates remain 1919-1934 or 1935.
Jan Mertens, 20 December 2003
See also: Italia di Navigazione Srl
image by Jarig Bakker, 10 December 2005
Lolli-Ghetti Carbonavi S.A., Palermo - blue flag, white italic
"LG".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of
the World, compiled by J.L. Loughran, Glasgow, 1995.
Jarig Bakker, 10 December 2005