Shaw, Savill & Albion Line

{{Short description|Shipping line Britain to Australasia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}

{{Infobox company

|name = Shaw, Savill & Albion Line

|logo = House flag of Shaw, Savill & Albion Line.svg

|logo_caption = House flag

|slogan =

|type =

|fate = Defunct

|Predecessor =

|successor = Furness, Withy Co. Ltd.

|foundation = 1882

|defunct = 1975

|location =

|industry = Shipping

|products =

|key_people =

|num_employees =

|parent =

|subsid =

}}

Shaw, Savill & Albion Line was the shipping line of P Henderson & Company, a British shipping management that operated trans-British, Australian and New Zealand cargo and passenger routes when P Henderson's Albion Line merged with Shaw Savill Line in 1882, lasting till 1970 when Elder Dempster Lines chartered P Henderson fleets in 1947 till 1965 when Ocean Group plc acquired Elder, Dempster, till the Suez crisis when the last 3 Henderson ships were transferred to Elder, Dempster and the Henderson label phased out.{{sfn|De Kerbrech|1986}}{{sfn|Waters|1961|p=157}}{{cite web |url= http://www.oceanlinermuseum.co.uk/Shaw%20Savill%20&%20Albion%20Line%20history.html |title=Shaw Savill & Albion Line (Est. 1882) |publisher=The Ocean Liner Virtual Museum |access-date=3 November 2012}}

History

File:Lindfield (ship, 1891) - SLV H96.160-456.jpg built in 1891. Shaw, Savill and Albion sold her to Norwegian buyers in 1911.]]

The company was created in 1882 by the amalgamation of Shaw, Savill & Company Ltd. and Albion Shipping Co. Ltd. The new company comprised 12 ships from the Albion line and 19 from Shaw Savill. List of ships{{harvnb|Laird|1961|p=87}}

At the annual shareholders' meeting of the company on 12 April 1892, profits for the year of £35,270 16s 2d were announced.{{cite news |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP18920616.2.50 |title=Shaw, Savill & Albion Company |date=16 June 1892

|work=The Evening Post |page=4 |location=Wellington, NZ |access-date=3 November 2012}}

File:SS THEMISTOCLES in Sydney Harbour.jpg

In 1928 White Star Line bought 18 Shaw, Savill and Albion ships.{{cite news |url= http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F7061FF73559127A93CBAB1788D85F4C8285F9 |title=White Star Gets 18 Ships; Shaw, Savill & Albion Steamers Acquired by English Line. |date=29 March 1928 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=3 November 2012}} In 1932 Shaw, Savill and Albion took over Aberdeen Line, and in 1933 Furness, Withy Co., Ltd. acquired control of Shaw, Savill and Albion.{{cite news |url= http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40E12FE345E16738DDDAB0A94DD405B838FF1D3 |title=Essendon Obtains Another Ship Line; Chairman of Furness-Withy Gets Control of the Shaw, Savill & Albion Co. Possesses Record Fleet. Transportation Leader Now Guides More Than Forty Shipping and Affiliated Companies |date=22 May 1933 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=3 November 2012}} In 1934 White Star merged with Cunard Line and gave up its routes to Australia and New Zealand, selling assets including the liners {{SS|Ionic|1903|2}} and {{SS|Ceramic|1912|2}} to Shaw, Savill and Albion.

Shaw, Savill and Albion ran refrigerated cargo liners between New Zealand and the UK via the Panama Canal. {{sfn|Harnack|1938|p=575}}{{sfn|Talbot-Booth|1942|p=542}} In the 1930s Harland and Wolff built for Shaw, Savill four {{DWT|13000}} refrigerated cargo motor ships: Waiwera and Waipawa launched in 1934, Wairangi launched in 1935 and {{MV|Waimarama||2}} launched in 1938. As well as being unusually large for their era, the "W-class" were among the swiftest cargo ships in the World. On sea trials Waimarama achieved {{convert|20|kn|km/h}}.{{sfn|Wilson|1956|p=185}}

In 1936, Shaw, Savill and Albion announced plans to sell Ionic.{{cite news

|url= https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/289614132.html?dids=289614132:289614132&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI

|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130104112240/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/289614132.html?dids=289614132:289614132&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI

|url-status= dead

|archive-date= 4 January 2013

|title= Ionic's Last Trips In Pacific Recall 33-Year Service |date=9 September 1936 |newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |quote=Announcement by the Shaw Savill & Albion Company that the liner Ionic is to be sold at the end of this year recalls the 50 years of the history of direct steam service between New Zealand and the homeland.

|access-date=3 November 2012}} She was scrapped in 1936 or 1937 in Osaka, Japan. In 1939 the company introduced a new flagship, the {{GRT|27155}} {{ship|QSMV|Dominion Monarch}}. Her unique initials stood for "Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel".

In the Second World War Dominion Monarch was a highly successful troop ship. A U-boat sank Waiwera in June 1942.{{cite web |url= https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1873.html |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=Waiwera |work=uboat.net |access-date=26 October 2020}} The "W-class" refrigerated ships' unusually high speed led to both Wairangi and Waimarama being selected for Operation Pedestal to relieve Malta. Both were sunk by enemy action on 13 August 1942,{{cite web |url= http://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=9158&vessel=WAIRANGI |title=Wairangi |work=Shipping and Shipbuilding |publisher=North East Maritime Forum |access-date=26 October 2020}}{{cite web |url= http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=205434&vessel=WAIMARAMA |title=Waimarama |work=Shipping and Shipbuilding |publisher=North East Maritime Forum |access-date=26 October 2020}} the day before the convoy reached its destination. Waipawa was the only member of the "W-class" to survive the war.

File:StateLibQld 1 51268 Persic (Ship).jpg completed the cargo ship Persic for Shaw, Savill and Albion in 1949.]]

In 1955 Dominion Monarch was joined by a new flagship, the {{GRT|20204}} {{SS|Southern Cross|1954|2}}. The {{GRT|24731}} {{SS|Northern Star|1961|2}} replaced Dominion Monarch in 1962. As the scheduled liner trade declined, the company laid up Southern Cross in 1972, initially in the Port of Southampton, and after 6 months she sailed to the River Fal for further lay up until being sold to Greek interests in 1973; after a major transformation she reappeared as Calypso.

Another notable vessel was the Gothic, which had the honour of serving as a royal yacht in 1954.

With the company losing money and the oil crisis of 1973 having a major effect on the company a decision was made to withdraw Northern Star and Ocean Monarch from service in 1975, with both ships being sold to Taiwanese breakers. Northern Star was only 13 years old when she was scrapped. With a long history of mechanical problems there was no potential purchaser of her.

A variation of the flag used by the United Tribes of New Zealand was used by the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line as its company flag.{{harvnb|Barraclough|Crampton|1978|p=}}{{page needed |date=October 2020}}

References

=Notes=

{{Reflist}}

=Bibliography=

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |last1=Barraclough |first1=EMC |last2=Crampton |first2=WG |year=1978 |title=Flags of the World |place=London |publisher=Frederick Warne & Co |isbn=978-0723220152 }}{{page needed |date=October 2020}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Bell |first1=Andrew |last2=Robinson |first2=Murray |year=2011 |title=Shaw Savill's Magnificent Seven: Corinthic, Athenic, Ceramic, Gothic, Persic, Runic, Suevic |place=Preston |publisher=Ships in Focus |isbn=9781901703603 }}
  • {{cite book |last=Bowen |first=Frank Charles |year=1939 |title=The Flag of the Southern Cross: The History of Shaw Savill & Albion Co. Limited, 1858-1939 |place=Liverpool |publisher=Shaw, Savill & Albion Co |oclc=31641836 }}
  • {{cite book |last=Bowen |first=Frank Charles |title=The Flag of the Southern Cross: The History of Shaw Savill & Albion Co. Limited, 1939-1945 |date=1947 |place=London |publisher=Shaw, Savill & Albion Co |oclc=248911566 }}
  • {{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Sir Arthur |year=1957 |title=One Hundred Years under the Southern Cross: Shaw Savill Line |place=London |publisher=Shaw, Savill & Albion |oclc=963707882 }}
  • {{cite book |last=De Kerbrech |first=Richard P |year=1986 |title=Shaw Savill & Albion: The Post-War Fortunes of a Shipping Empire |place=London |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |isbn=0851773931 }}
  • {{cite book |last=De Kerbrech |first=Richard P |year=1992 |title=The Shaw Savill Line: Images in Mast, Steam and Motor |series=Ship Pictorial series |place=Coltishall |publisher=Ship Pictorial Publications |isbn=0951603833 }}
  • {{cite book |last=Harnack |first=Edwin P |orig-year=1903 |year=1938 |title=All About Ships & Shipping |place=London |publisher=Faber and Faber |edition=7th }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Laird |first1=Dorothy |year=1961 |title=Paddy Henderson |place=Glasgow |publisher=George Outram and Company }}
  • {{cite book |last=Savill |first=David |year=1986 |title=Sail to New Zealand: The Story of Shaw Savill & Co., 1858-82 |place=London |publisher=Robert Hale |isbn=0709028091 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Spong |first1=Henry C |last2=Osborne |first2=Richard H |year=2011 |title=Shaw, Savill & Albion: A Fleet History – incorporating the Albion Line; Shaw, Savill & Company; John Leslie; Walter Savill and his ships, Crusader Shipping Company; Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line |place=Windsor |publisher=World Ship Society |isbn=9780956076939 }}
  • {{cite book |last=Talbot-Booth |first=EC |year=1942 |orig-year=1936 |title=Ships and the Sea |edition=Seventh |place=London |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd }}
  • {{cite book |last=Waters |first=Sydney D |year=1961 |title=Shaw Savill Line: One Hundred Years of Trading |place=Christchurch |publisher=Whitcombe and Tombs |lccn=62035767 }}
  • {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=RM |year=1956 |title=The Big Ships |place=London |publisher=Cassell & Co }}
  • {{cite web |url= http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/shaw.shtml |last1=Swiggum |first1=Susan |last2=Kohli |first2=Marjorie |title=Shaw, Savill & Company, London / Albion Line, Glasgow / John Leslie & Partners, Aberdeen / Shaw, Savill & Albion Line |work=TheShipsList |date=14 July 2013 |access-date=3 November 2012}}

{{refend}}