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The Fleets
Albyn Line, Sunderland
1901-1966
The Albyn Line was founded as a private company in Sunderland
in 1901 with Sir William Allan (1837-1903) as its chairman. After his
death, Sir James (later Lord) Joicey (1846-1936) succeeded him.
Following a management contract in 1901 between the new company and the
already existing firm of Allan Black and Company, the latter's managing
director and managers took over these posts in the new company as well.
From the start of tramping operations the company used names starting
with “Thistle” for all of its ships.
The pattern of Albyn Line trade was South Welsh or Tyne coal outwards
to the Continent or Port Said, and after discharge in ballast through
the Dardanelles to Odessa to load grain for London or the Continent.
Other areas served occasionally were the River Plate and the Gulf of
Mexico.
At the outbreak of the First World War the company owned four vessels.
Apart from one which was detained by the Turks for the duration of
the war, all the others were lost in 1917.
Until 1924 the Albyn Line operated with only one ship and the voyages
tended to be of longer duration. During this period its income was supplemented
by the profits of its shipping agency business. Two ships were built
in 1924 and 1925, and in 1928 and 1929 four more new ships were immediately
laid up because of the depression.
The Albyn Line entered the Second World War with four ships, only one
of which survived.
In the 1950s three motor ships were built and they were chartered to
liner or tramp companies. From 1961 trading conditions became less and
less profitable and in 1966 the firm went into voluntary liquidation
and the fleet sold to Chapman & Willan Ltd.
Many thanks to Henk Jungerius and Ted Finch for his assistance in
collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various
sources. This is not an
all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide. If you would like
to know more about a vessel, visit the Ship
Descriptions (onsite) or Immigrant
Ship web site.
Funnel & Flag:
Fleet:
|
 |
 |
| Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
| Thistleard |
1912 |
built by Craig, Taylor & Co.Ltd, Stockton on Tees
| 24th April 1917 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U.82. |
4,136 |
| Thistleban |
1910 |
built by Craig, Taylor & Co.Ltd, Stockton on Tees
| 23rd December 1916 mined and sunk near Alexandria. |
4,117 |
| Thistleben |
1924 |
built by W. Pickersgill & Sons, Sunderland | 4th October
1928 sunk in collision with US Steamer HANLEY off Florida coast. |
4,589 |
| Thistlebrae |
1928 |
built by J. L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. Sunderland | 1940
seized by German forces at Trondheim renamed Altkirch, 1944 renamed
Inster, 3rd May 1945 sunk by British aircraft off Laboe. |
4,747 |
| Thistledale |
1941 |
built by J. L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. Sunderland | 1959
sold to Altis Cia Nav. S.A., Panama renamed Nedi, 29th November 1966
grounded Fehmarn Island, Lübeck when in tow for scrap, refloated
and sold, 1967 scrapped at Kaohsiung. |
7,241 |
| Thistledhu (1) |
1901 |
built by Irvine's Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd.,
West Hartlepool | 18th June 1917 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine
U.82 with the loss of 4 lives. |
4,026 |
| Thistledhu (2) |
1955 |
built by John Crown & Son Ltd, Sunderland | 1957 renamed
Kildare on charter to Avenue Shipping Co., 1960 renamed Thistledhu,
1966 sold to Somerston Shipping Co. Ltd, Bermuda (Chapman & Willan)
renamed Merton, 1968 sold to Anesis Shipping Co., Panama renamed
Rio Doro, 5th November 1977 steering engine failed and grounded Hatter
Rev near Samso, 1978 scrapped at Bilbao. |
5,635 |
| Thistledowne |
1952 |
built by J. L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. Sunderland | 1955
renamed Port Curtis on charter to Port
Line, 1961 renamed Thistledowne, 1966 sold to Carlton S.S. Co.
Ltd (Chapman & Willan), Newcastle, 1966 sold to Ratnakar Shipping
Co., Calcutta renamed Ratna Jyoti, 1972 sold for scrapping, 1973
scrapped at Mazagan. |
5,635 |
| Thistleford |
1928 |
built by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland |
1950 sold to San Miguel Cia Mar S.A., Panama renamed Archon Michael,
18th December 1962 dragged anchors and grounded at Abu Zenima and
declared total loss. |
4,764 |
| Thistlegarth |
1929 |
built by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland |
15th October 1940 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U.103 with
the loss of 31 lives. |
4,750 |
| Thistleglen |
1929 |
built by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland |
10th September 1941 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U.85 with
the loss of 3 lives. |
4,750 |
| Thistlegorm |
1940 |
built by J. L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. Sunderland | 6th
October 1941 bombed by German aircraft and sunk at anchorage F in
Strait of Jubal, Gulf of Suez with the loss of 9 lives. |
4,898 |
| Thistlemor |
1906 |
built by Craig, Taylor & Co.Ltd, Stockton on Tees
| 3rd December 1909 foundered in Barnstaple Bay with the loss of
21 lives. |
4,008 |
| Thistlemuir |
1941 |
built by J. L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. Sunderland | 1961
sold to Cia Auxilar Maritima Ltda, Port Limon, Costa Rica renamed
Nunez de Balbao, 1968 scrapped at Osaka. |
7,237 |
| Thistleros |
1924 |
built by D. & W. Henderson & Co. Ltd., Glasgow | 1928
sold to Mitsui Bussan K.K., Kobe renamed Shikisan Maru, 24th July
1944 torpedoed and sunk by American submarine USS Drum with the loss
of 11 lives. |
4,615 |
| Thistleroy (1) |
1902 |
built by Irvine's Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd.,
West Hartlepool | 28th December 1911 wrecked on Cape Lookout Shoal,
North Carolina. |
4,027 |
| Thistleroy (2) |
1960 |
built by J. L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. Sunderland | 1966
sold to Somerston Shipping Co. Ltd, Bermuda (Chapman & Willan) renamed
Ingleton, 1970 sold to Neptunea Mundial S.A., Panama renamed Panetolikon,
1981 sold to Askeladd Shipping Corp., Monrovia renamed Shabaan, 1982
sold to Najd Maritime Transport Co., Jeddah, 1984 scrapped at Chittagong. |
7,919 |
| Thistletor |
1910 |
built by Irvine's Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd.,
West Hartlepool | 1930 sold to Plovidba Rad (Banaz & Rusko), Drubovnik
renamed Rad, 3rd August 1940 shelled and sunk by German submarine
UA. |
4,162 |
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