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Silver Line Shipping Company Ltd.,
and
Dene Shipmanagement Ltd.
Commentary by Geoff Walker
Stanley and John Thompson collaborated in1908 to form a company to act as managing
owners of the St. Helens Steam Shipping Co., London, initially using a vessel named
Silverbirch, which was employed in general tramping. This ship was the ex- Wearmouth, in 1911
purchased from Evan, Thompson & Co., London. In 1914 Silver Line sold to A & A Callinicos, Ithaca. The
new owners renamed the vessel Salamis. From the outset, Silver Line ships all had a name preceded
with “Silver”, followed by the name of a tree.
Additional tonnage was acquired in 1913 when their company was contracted with the America-Levant
Line, to operate transatlantic services. This contract ran successfully until 1930. Earlier, during the
1920s, the company had commenced managing ships for the Kerr SS Co., New York and operated an
around the world service jointly with Prince Line. However, in 1930, Silver Line came to an agreement
with the Java Pacific fleets of Rotterdam Lloyd and Nederland Stoomvaarts and their combined fleets
took the name of Silver Java Pacific Co., participating in the round the world service.
An early member of the Silver
Line fleet 4416 GRT, ex-
Fitzpatrick built in 1907. In 1913
she was purchased by Silver Line
from Burrell & Son, Glasgow and
renamed Silvercedar. In 1916
she was resold to Brantingham
S.S. Co., Newcastle renamed
Norma Pratt.
(Courtesy John B Hill Collection)
This company lost 11 ships during the second world war and in 1947 the commercial management
transferred from the Thompson family to the Barraclough family. Under the new management, the
company changed their policy from liner services to cargo and tramping work and their modern
passenger / cargo liners were sold to other interests.
One of the ships disposed of was the 1926 built Silverash, which went on to provide reliable service
under her new Dutch ownership.
In 1955 Silver Line sold their Silverash to N.V. Konink. Java-China Paketvaart Lijnen, Amsterdam (aka RIL)
and renamed Tjisondari. KPM employed her on their Japan-South Africa- South America service which
was a dream run for young officers and sailors. She remained with KPM/RIL until 1957 when she was
sent for demolition at Hongkong.
(Unknown)
Silverash alongside at Empire Dock – Singapore in 1954 whilst on charter to KPM, prior to her sale to
KPM in 1955. She was the last of the pre-WW2 vessels to be sold.
Ex - Silverash owned and operated by KPM as
Tjisondari, from 1955 until 1957,
(Unknown)
The Silverdene, 5657 GRT, built 1956. In 1960 Silver Line sold her to Nigerian National Line, Lagos, who
renamed her El Kanemi. This was in conformity with their policy to reduce the size of their fleet.
(Unknown)
Hallindene, 4928 GRT, built in 1952.
Sold in 1958 as part of the fleet
reorganization program. Purchased by
Indian interests, Scindia Steam Navigation
Company Ltd and renamed Jalamudra.
Onsold in 1968 to Tolani Pvt Ltd and
renamed Prabhu Puni. In 1973 the vessel
was again sold to Indoceanic Sg Co Pvt
Ltd and renamed Tasneem. Sent for
demolition in India early 1977.
(Courtesy Allen Collection)
Below, a fine portrait of the 12berth passenger/cargo liner, Silverbriar, 7242 GRT. sporting her twin
funnels. She along with her sister ship Silverplane (7242 GRT) were sold to Cunard and renamed Andria
and Alsatia, respectively, engaging them on
their London-Le Havre-New York service. The
Cunard Line acquired the Silverplane in 1951
and the Silverbriar in 1952. It is understood
the forward funnel was false and housed the
chart room and Captain’s Cabin. Cunard sold
the Andria to China Union Lines (CY Tung)
who renamed her Union Faith. In April 1969
she was destroyed by fire at New Orleans
after colliding with some oil barges, 25 crew
lost their lives, including all those on the
Bridge at the time. (Courtesy Sheila Sly collection)
The Alsatia was also sold by Cunard in 1963, to the same Taiwanese owners and renamed Union
Freedom, which remained in service until 1977 when sent for demolition.
A magnificent image of
Silverbria as Andria of
Cunard Line - Liverpool
(Unknown)
The stylish Passenger/Officer’s Bar on the
Silverbriar
(Courtesy Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums')
(Original Silver Line funnel) In 1957 Silver Line amalgamated with and Dene Shipping Co. Ltd.
Silver line then changed their funnel colors to include that of Dene Shipping motif.
(After amalgamation with Dene Shipping Company).
Silver Line Ltd joined the Seabridge consortium in 1965 together with Hunting, Bibby, Bowring, Clarkson
and Houlder Lines and operated bulk carriers. Silver Chemical Tankers Ltd was also established in 1965
to operate in the coastal chemical and oil trades carrying many types of (often hazardous) cargoes; from
sulphuric acid to tetraethyllead. These ships often traded in the Baltic region. They were usually called
Silver- plus the name of a bird of prey (ie. Silvermerlin, Silverosprey, etc.). Promotion on these ships
could be very rapid for those officers prepared to serve regularly on them.
In 1971 Silver Line Ltd was acquired by Navcot (Shipping) Holdings Ltd but by 1982 they had reduced
their fleet to two bulk carriers and some small chemical tankers. Their last ship was the Silverhawk, sold
to Sea Cheer Investments, Panama and renamed Philchem. 1988 renamed Stainless Duke. Broken up at
Aliaga November in 1997.
Silverhawk whilst under bareboat charter to CSR in Australia, prior to her sale in 1985. Later during 1985
she was sold to Sea Cheer Investment Panama and renamed Philchem. 1988 renamed Stainless Duke.
Broken up at Aliaga November 1997.
(Unknown)
There was another Silver Line Chemical tanker, the
Silverharrier which operated on the Australian coast under
bareboat charter. Silverharrier was used to carry oil
cargoes, chemicals, or Sulphuric Acid in center tanks with a
SG up to 1.84. Late in 1970s she was placed on bare-boat
charter to Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd., Sydney (CSR) as
a chemical tanker for the Australian coast.
In 1980 Silverharrier was sold to Univan Ship Management, Hong Kong (British) and renamed KYRGO.
Onsold in 1981 to Denizcilik Isletmesi A.S. Istanbul, Turkey and renamed BATU. 1989 she was acquired
by Deniz-ay Denizcilik UE Ticaret A.S. Turkey and renamed DENIZ-AY; registered under Turkish flag.
Demolition commenced at Aliaga, October 2009
The Silverharrier photographed alongside,
somewhere in Australia during BB charter to CSR,
prior to being sold to Captain Charles
Vandeperre’s Univan - Hong Kong.
(Unknown)
References: Silver Line archives, various public archives, Wiki, Allan Collection, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums', John B Hall Collection, Sheila
Sly collection.
Disclaimer: This is a “Not for Profit” document. Unless otherwise specified, images are from various unknown sources on the Public Domain and
used under the Fair Use category for review, commentary, and educational purposes only. Photographs of unknown origin – Attempts have
been made to source copyright holders. Owners of these images should make themselves known by contacting me via this website and I will be
pleased to give due accreditation. No infringement of copyright is intended.
Silver Line Ltd
MV. Silverfir 1924 – 1941
Originally built in 1924 for the St. Helens and Silver Cedar Shipping Company, (which later
became Silver Line Ltd.) by Wm. Doxford and Sons Ltd.
DWT 8075 LBP/BM 375/53 ft
3 Cylinder Doxford Opposed Piston Diesel.
Details are a little scarce, but it is known the ship was sunk by the German raider
“Gneisenau” in the north Atlantic on 16th March 1941.