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.