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The FleetsBullard King & Company,
Limited / Natal Direct Line
Bullard King & Company, Limited, was founded in 1850 with a fleet of small sailing ships
trading from the Thames to the Mediterranean. In 1879 they built their first steamer and
introduced the Natal Direct Line to carry passengers directly to Durban and later East African
ports. In 1889 they commenced sailings from India to South Africa to carry field labourers for the
sugar plantations. In 1911 immigration from India was stopped and in 1919 Bullard King &
Company, Limited, was taken over by the Union-Castle Line, although keeping it's independent
identity and colours. For later history see Union-Castle Line. Their last ships were merged into
the Springbok Line in 1960.
Many thanks to 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. Routes:
- 1879-1960 UK - South Africa (later added East Africa and Mauritius)
- 1889-1933 India and Ceylon - South Africa.
Funnel:
Buff with black top and brown band.
Fleet: |
 |
| Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
| Congella |
1881 |
1910 sold to Ellerman
Lines, renamed Douro. |
1,585 |
| Limpopo |
1880 |
1892 wrecked off Reunion. |
1,174 |
| Palala |
1885 |
1886 wrecked in English Channel. |
1,144 |
| Pongola |
1879 |
1907 sold to Cie de Navigation
Mixte, France, renamed Mitidja. |
1,449 |
| Umbilo |
1890 |
1909 sold to Ellerman
Lines, renamed Castilian. |
1,923 |
| Umfuli |
1893 |
1924 scrapped. |
2,370 |
| Umgazi |
1940 |
ex- Lanarkshire, 1959 transferred from Scottish
Shire Line and renamed Umgazi, 1960 transferred to Springbok Line,
renamed Grysbok. |
8,167 |
| Umgeni (1) |
1898 |
November 1917, sank in bad weather in convoy. |
2,662 |
| Umgeni (2) |
1938 |
1957 sold to Elder
Dempster & Co., renamed Winneba. |
8149 |
| Umgeni (3) |
1942 |
ex- Clan Macrae, 1959 transferred from Clan
Line and renamed Umgeni, 1960 transferred to Springbok Line, renamed
Gemsbok |
9,184 |
| Umhlali |
1904 |
1909 wrecked near Cape Point. |
3,380 |
| Umhloti |
1890 |
1922 scrapped. |
2,204 |
| Umkuzi (1) |
1890 |
1923 sold to Germany, renamed Tilde. |
2,057 |
| Umkuzi (2) |
1903 |
ex- Cluny Castle, 1924 transferred from Union-Castle
Line and renamed Umkuzi, 1939 scrapped. |
5,175 |
| Umkuzi (3) |
1942 |
ex- Clan Angus, 1956 transferred from Clan
Line and renamed Umkuzi, 1959 reverted to Clan Line Clan Angus. |
7,015 |
| Umlazi (1) |
1888 |
1913 sold to Italy, renamed Concadore. |
1,793 |
| Umlazi (2) |
1918 |
ex- Rosyth Castle, 1920 transferred from Union-Castle
Line and renamed Umlazi, 1936 sold to British owners, renamed Campden
Hill. |
4,276 |
| Umona (1) |
1890 |
1903 wrecked Maldive Islands. |
2,031 |
| Umona (2) |
1910 |
1941 torpedoed and sunk southwest of Freetown. |
3,759 |
| Umsinga |
1901 |
1928 scrapped. |
2,958 |
| Umtali (1) |
1896 |
1925 sold to Yugoslavia, renamed Solun. |
2,641 |
| Umtali (2) |
1936 |
1957 sold to Elder
Dempster & Co., renamed Calabar. |
8,135 |
| Umtali (3) |
1942 |
ex- Clan Allan, 1958 transferred from Clan
Line and renamed Umtali, 1959 reverted to Clan Line, Clan Allan |
7,025 |
| Umtata (1) |
1883 |
1891 wrecked near Madras. |
1,789 |
| Umtata (2) |
1898 |
1924 scrapped. |
2,655 |
| Umtata (3) |
1935 |
1942 torpedoed and sunk off Miami. |
8,147 |
| Umtata (4) |
1944 |
1960 transferred to Springbok Line, renamed Klipbok. |
7,288 |
| Umvolosi (1) |
1889 |
1890 wrecked Kowie River. |
1,775 |
| Umvolosi (2) |
1902 |
1930 scrapped. |
2,986 |
| Umvoti (1) |
1896 |
1917 torpedoed and sunk northwest of Ushant. |
2,626 |
| Umvoti (2) |
1903 |
ex- Comrie Castle, 1924 transferred from Union-Castle
Line and renamed Umvoti, 1940 sunk as blockship in Folkestone harbour. |
5,183 |
| Umvoti (3) |
1942 |
ex- Clan Alpine, 1957 transferred from Clan
Line and renamed Umvoti, 1959 reverted to Clan Line Clan Alpine |
7,103 |
| Umvuma |
1914 |
1943 torpedoed and sunk off Mauritius. |
4,419 |
| Umzinto (1) |
1886 |
1912 sold to Algeria, renamed Rapide. |
1,802 |
| Umzinto (2) |
1895 |
ex- Sabine, 1921 transferred from Union-Castle
Line (Union SS Co.) and renamed
Umzinto, 1925 scrapped. |
3,809 |
| Umzinto (3) |
1942 |
ex- Empire Kinsman, 1948 purchased from MOWT and renamed
Umzinto, 1956 sold to Costa Rica, renamed Vastric. |
6,751 |
| Umzinto (4) |
1954 |
ex- Clan Robertson, 1959 transferred from Clan
Line and renamed Umzinto, 1960 transferred to Springbok Line, renamed
Rooibok. |
7,878 |
| Umzumbi |
1904 |
1932 scrapped. |
3,379 |
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Last updated: February 05, 2005 and maintained by
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