Elder Dempster Lines
Encyclopedia
Elder Dempster Lines was a British
shipping company which operated from 1932 to 2000, although its origins stretch back into the mid-19th century.
in 1852. Elder Dempster Shipping Limited was formed in 1899, and in 1932 this company, together with the African Steamship Company, and the British & African Steam Navigation Company, came under the Elder Dempster Lines name.
The company operated from British ports, mainly Liverpool
, where it was based, to West Africa
n destinations. It operated three liners, the flagship Aureol
, together with the Accra and Apapa, to Ghana
and Nigeria
, as well as many other freight and mail ships.
The company expanded, taking over a number of other shipping companies between 1951 and 1965.
When the Nigerian National Shipping Line
was formed in 1957, Elder Dempster took a 33% stake, selling in 1961 to the Nigerian government.
In 1965 the company came under the ownership of the Ocean Steamship Company (Blue Funnel Line
). The end for the Elder Dempster Lines name came in 1989 when it was bought by the French firm Delmas-Vieljeux
, although the company continued as a shipping agents until 2000 when it was wound up.
By 1970 all stock in the former Shaw, Savill & Albion Line had been transferred to Elder Dempster.
. E.D. Morel, the main activist in the movement to expose the abuses of Leopold in his private colony, first realized the discrepancy in value trade goods being sent to the Congo while working for Dempster. As much as 80% of the goods being shipped to the Congo on Dempster ships were ammunition and other weapons. From this shipping information Morel deduced the extremely aggressive tactics being used by Leopold.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
shipping company which operated from 1932 to 2000, although its origins stretch back into the mid-19th century.
History
Elder Dempster and Company started trading as the African Steamship CompanyAfrican Steamship Company
The African Steamship Company was a British shipping line in the 19th and early 20th centuries.The company was founded in the middle of the 19th century by Macgregor Laird, the younger son of the shipbuilder William Laird, and based in Birkenhead...
in 1852. Elder Dempster Shipping Limited was formed in 1899, and in 1932 this company, together with the African Steamship Company, and the British & African Steam Navigation Company, came under the Elder Dempster Lines name.
The company operated from British ports, mainly Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, where it was based, to West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n destinations. It operated three liners, the flagship Aureol
MV Aureol
The MV Aureol was a 1951 built mid-sized British ocean liner, originally put into service for Elder Dempster Lines of Liverpool in 1951.She was constructed on the River Clyde in Glasgow by the shipbuilders Alexander Stephen and Sons. At 537 feet long and weighing just over 14,000 tons, Aureol had...
, together with the Accra and Apapa, to Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, as well as many other freight and mail ships.
The company expanded, taking over a number of other shipping companies between 1951 and 1965.
When the Nigerian National Shipping Line
Nigerian National Shipping Line
The Nigerian National Shipping Line was established by the Nigerian government in 1959.Despite heavy investment and subsidies, the state-owned company was unable to compete with European lines....
was formed in 1957, Elder Dempster took a 33% stake, selling in 1961 to the Nigerian government.
In 1965 the company came under the ownership of the Ocean Steamship Company (Blue Funnel Line
Blue Funnel Line
Alfred Holt and Company, marketed as the Blue Funnel Line, was founded by Alfred Holt on 16 January 1866.The main operating subsidiary was the Ocean Steam Ship Company, which owned and operated the majority of the company's vessels....
). The end for the Elder Dempster Lines name came in 1989 when it was bought by the French firm Delmas-Vieljeux
Delmas (shipping company)
Delmas Shipping, based in Le Havre, France, is a containerized-freight and ro-ro shipping company, mainly carrying trade between western Europe and Africa...
, although the company continued as a shipping agents until 2000 when it was wound up.
By 1970 all stock in the former Shaw, Savill & Albion Line had been transferred to Elder Dempster.
Involvement in the Belgian Congo
During the late 19th century, Dempster held a shipping contract with King Leopold II to ship goods and supplies to and from the Congo Free StateCongo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
. E.D. Morel, the main activist in the movement to expose the abuses of Leopold in his private colony, first realized the discrepancy in value trade goods being sent to the Congo while working for Dempster. As much as 80% of the goods being shipped to the Congo on Dempster ships were ammunition and other weapons. From this shipping information Morel deduced the extremely aggressive tactics being used by Leopold.