The Palm Line was a UK-owned shipping line that was engaged in the West African trade from 1949, primarily servicing the ports along 5,000 miles of coastline from Morocco in the north to Angola in the far south. It ceased trading in 1986.
Ilesha Palm navigating the Escravos River to Sapele, Nigeria (1979)
In the post-war period of the late 1940s, UAC decided to divest its shipping fleet to become an independent company in its own right. On 16 February 1949, an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders was held to set up the new company. This was done by reviving the dormant articles of association of the old Southern Whaling and Sealing Company, which Lever Bros. had bought in 1919 then sold to Christian Salvesen Ltd in 1941, and changing the name to Palm Line.
The name of the new company had not been decided upon without considerable discussion. At one stage the name Sun Line had been put forward. It was Mr Frank Samuel, later to become the new company's first chairman who thought of the name 'Palm'.
The Creeks
It is notable that all Palm Line ships, with the exception of Kano Palm and Katsina Palm, built before 1970 had to be less than 500 feet (150 m) long in order to navigate the creeks of Nigeria. Draught is another important feature. The coast of West Africa is extremely flat, and the slow-moving rivers and tidal currents have combined to build up long sand bars a mile or two off the coast. To enter most of the rivers, ships must pass over these bars; 27 feet (8.2 m) being the maximum draught to serve all ports. Even so, to enter many rivers, - for example the Escravos River which leads to Sapele - ships cannot carry more than 4,000 tons since the maximum draught to successfully make it over the Escravos Bar is limited to 17 feet (5.2 m), so vessels would often cross over the bar at the entrance to the adjacent Forcados River, then take the connecting creek to the Escravos River.
Krooboys
It was common practice for all vessels to call in at Freetown both south- and northbound to take on both fuel bunkers and 'Krooboys' - additional local West African crew members; their duties being mainly chipping, painting and hold cleaning. They had their own separate accommodation on deck between hatches 1 & 2, with the headman having his own cabin in the fo'c'sle.
Palm Line house flag
The End
The early 1980s spelled the beginning of the end for Palm Line. From 1982 until 1986 the dramatic drop in Europe / West Africa trade meant the increasing need to charter the vessels out to third parties. Palm Line was sold to Ocean Fleets in 1986.[1] The last Chairman of Palm Lines was Gordon Williams of Pontypool.
Emblem
The palm tree emblem had already been used on a Unilever Ltd house flag designed in 1939.
Merseyside Maritime Museum
From Jun-Dec 2018 the museum had a temporary exhibition entitled 'Palm Line - A new company for a new era', with a scale-model of MV Matadi Palm (1970) as its centrepiece.
Powered by a 3-cyl engine from North-Eastern Marine Engineering Co (1938) Ltd (Wallsend). 18 Nov 1962 sank in Naples harbour where she had arrived from Leghorn to load 400 tons of general cargo. She dragged her anchor in a fierce gale and drifted onto rocks surrounding the breakwater. There were no casualties.
Carried Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to London for the Commonwealth Prime Minister's Conference.
Powered by a 4500bhp 4-cyl 2-stroke Doxford marine diesel
Sold in 1972 to Barada Shipping & Trading Co, Famagusta; renamed Irene's Grace
Resold in 1977 to Palineon Shipping Co, Piraeus
Broken up in Jun 1981 in Bombay
She carried the very last Doxford ship engine ever built; the J-type.
In 1985 she was taken over by UAC, who renamed her Badagry.
In 1986 she was sold to new owners who registered her in Panama renaming her Cordigliera.
Tragically the Cordigliera sank with all (23) hands in very rough weather off Port St Johns, South Africa 31°21′S30°1′E / 31.350°S 30.017°E / -31.350; 30.017 on 14 Nov 1996, after issuing out a distress to Durban radio at 10:30pm
.[5][6]
Sold in 1972 to Spetsai Shipping Co Ltd, Famagusta; renamed Lenio.
Resold in 1977 to Marlinea Armadora SA, Piraeus, and then again in 1978 to Moineau Cia Naviera SA, Piraeus; renamed ELSA SK. In 1981 renamed Eternal Sea, before being finally scrapped in May 1983.
MV Bamenda Palm in Middle Docks, South Shields drydock undergoing conversion to mv Lloyd Texas (1984)
Built by Hyundai of South Korea in 1979.
On 18 December 1980 she appeared in a front-page article of the UK Sunday Express newspaper under the headline 'Drama At Sea As Gales Sweep Coast'. Bamenda Palm had accidentally rammed a Romanian fish factory ship whilst entering Carrick Roads, Falmouth harbour during the early hours in a southerly force 9 gale. The fish-factory ship was holed just below the water-line midships on the port side by the bulbous bow of the Bamenda Palm[1]. Her Master was George Holeyman. There were no casualties.
In 1985 she reverted to Bamenda Palm - from Lloyd Texas - and taken over by UAC.
In 1986 she was sold to Cyprus & renamed Arko Glory. She has had several name changes since then, namely, MC Ruby (Jun 1989),[8] Medipas Tide (Jul 1989), MC Ruby (1990), Ville de Damas (Nov 1993), MC Ruby (May 1994), Runner (Sep 1994), CMBT Eagle (Oct 1994), Runner (Jan 1999), Renata (Jun 2000) and finally African Star (Apr-Dec 2005) under the Bahamian flag (Bahamas). She was scrapped at Alang in 2009.
The 1996 TV film Deadly Voyage was set on board MC Ruby
SS Benin Palm
1936
Deschimag Seebeck, Bremerhaven - 896
n/a
General Cargo
5,424
ex-Ethiopian
Sold in 1959 to Panama (Panama) and renamed Faneromeni, but registered in Lebanon
Sold in 1967 to Astrocid Naviera of Piraeus and renamed Tyhi
In 1973 she was re-sold to Globe Navigation of Singapore and renamed MV Globe Star. Later that year, 27 Apr 1973, she struck Leven Reef sank off Mombasa [2] and sank. She had been en route from Iskenderun to Karachi.
SS Dahomey Palm
1937
Furness Shipbuilding Company, Haverton Hill
n/a
General Cargo
4,876
ex-Conakrian
Sold in 1959 to Wallem & Co., Hong Kong and renamed Southern Mariner.
She was finally broken up in 1968.
MV Elmina Palm (5,356 GRT). At anchor, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Powered by a 4500bhp 4-cyl Doxford 2-stroke marine diesel. The first British cargo ship to make extensive use of aluminium in her superstructure - which made an extra 55 tons available for cargo deadweight - and later Palm Line ships followed this design.
Unlike the other ships built during this period, she was not fitted with 'deep tanks' for the carriage of vegetable oil.
Sold in 1977 to Panama and renamed Cyprus Sky
MV Gambia Palm (1937) on the River Mersey in front of Liverpool's Liver Building
Laid down originally as MV Empire Tweed but completed as MV Gambian.
Seized in 1941 by Vichy French forces at Dakar, Senegal. Renamed St Gabriel under the Vichy flag. Returned to Britain in 1943, and name returned to MV Gambian, then to MoWT and renamed Empire Tweed. Returned to United Africa Company Ltd in 1946 and again renamed Gambian. Sold in 1949 to Palm Line Ltd and renamed Gambian Palm. Sold in 1959 to E N Vernicos Shipping Co, Greece and renamed Irini’s Blessing, under the flag of Lebanon. Scrapped in July 1963 in Hong Kong.
Sister ship of the Ilorin Palm. She had a 4500bhp 4-cylinder 2-stroke Doxford engine.
In 1978 she was sold to Ali Khalifa Mirchandani Shipping Co, Kuwait; renamed Hind
In 1979 she was resold to Al Navigation Ltd, Hong Kong; renamed Arunkamal
In 1980 she was resold to Hind Shipping Co Ltd, Hong Kong
Broken up in 1983
Sister ship of Ilesha Palm. She had a 4-cylinder 2-stroke Doxford engine generating 4500bhp.
In 1981 she was sold to Cia Naviera Pancarib SA, Piraeus; renamed GME Palma (registered her in Panama)
In 1982 she was resold to Daniko Maritime Co SA, Piraeus; renamed Palma
Sister ship of the Ikeja Palm. She had a 4-cylinder 2-stroke Doxford engine generating 4500bhp. MV Ilesha Palm (1961)
In 1979 she was handed over in Bombay & sold to Chaldeos Freighters Ltd of Greece. The new owners registered her in Liberia and renamed her Daphnemar. Laid up at Mini Saqr in February 1982 and sold again to Barnwood Shipping Corp. of Panama., just over two years later she was towed to Karachi for breaking by Abbasi Shipping, arriving in the March 1984.
Sister ship of the Ibadan Palm. She had a 4-cylinder 2-stroke Doxford engine. MV Ilorin Palm (1960)
In 1979 she was sold to new owners who registered her in Liberia and renamed her Diamant Captain.
Sold in 1982 and renamed twice; first Cape Blanco then Sea Venturer
Scrapped in Dec 1982 in Chittagong
SS Kano Palm
1936
Howaldtswerke, Hamburg
n/a
General Cargo
5,129
ex-Guinean
Sold in 1954 to Panama and renamed St.George, but registered in Greece
Sister ship of the Katsina Palm (1957). Powered by a 5600bhp Doxford 5cyl 2-stroke marine diesel
Sold in 1979 to Shanti Shipping (Singapore) Pte Ltd; renamed Purna Shanti
Sold again in 1979 to Marvia Shipping Co SA, Panama; renamed Island Trader
Scrapped Sep 1982 in Bombay, India
In 1960 renamed Oguta Palm then sold in 1964 to Greece and renamed Heraclitos.
Then renamed Herodemos in 1969
Eventually broken up in Split in April 1973.
MV Lagos Palm leaving Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1979
Sister ship of the Lobito Palm.
She had a 6-cylinder 2-stroke Doxford engine generating 7500bhp
Sold in 1981 to Lifedream Cia Nav SA, Limassol; renamed City of Lobito
Broken up in 1984 after being wrecked in Sep 1983
MV Lagos Palm
1982
Stocznia Szczecińska - 368
7822768
16
General Cargo
15,575
1984 chartered to Lloyd Brasileiro and renamed Lloyd Rio
Sold in 1986 to USSR and renamed Boris Andreyev.
In 1996 she was re-sold and became Pearce for a short while, before becoming Nieves B until 2009 under a Spanish flag. In 2009 she was re-sold to Saint Kitts and Nevis and became Ahraf B before being broken up.
Sister ship of the Lagos Palm (1961).
She had a 6-cylinder 2-stroke Doxford engine generating 7500bhp
Sold in 1979 to Cyprus and renamed Lobito Pal.
Sold in 1980 to Middle East Maritime Co Ltd. (Piraeus) and renamed Minoa.
Sold in 1980 to Minoa Maritime Enterprises Ltd. and renamed Peruvian Trader.
In 1982 renamed Richmond.
In 1983 renamed Eurco and finally scrapped at Chittagong in 1983
Ordered as Empire Birdsay for the MOWT. A Type-C wartime standard cargo ship. Sold in 1966 to Compagnia Navigazione Kea of Panama; renamed Despina L.
In 1969 renamed Nova; registered in Cyprus
Broken up in Dec 1971
MV Lokoja Palm
1982
Stocznia Szczecińska - 371
7822770
16
General Cargo
15,576
Spent the majority of her short life with Palm Line chartered to the German company Woermann Line and renamed Wameru
In 1984 chartered to Lloyd Brasileiro and renamed Lloyd Australia
Sold in 1986 to USSR and renamed Mekhanik Bardetskiy
MV Makeni Palm
1951
Joseph L. Thompson and Sons, North Sands - 665
5218028
BVOC
ex-British Rover bought from British Petroleum in 1961 as a replacement for MV Opobo Palm
Sold in 1967 to Panama and renamed Kerkennah.
Sold in 1971 and renamed Palau
Scrapped in Jun 1978 in Brindisi
A purpose-built BVOC parcel-tanker 483 ft (147 m) in length, she carried refined vegetable oils, in up to 28 separate tanks, such as rape seed oil from northern Europe to West Africa, and returned with mainly unrefined palm oil or coconut oil.
She was built without double-bottoms for the cargo tanks, so although each tank had permanent steam coils installed - in order to maintain the oil at a constant carriage temperature of 96 °F (36 °C), with the temperature being raised to 110 °F (43 °C)-120 °F (49 °C) for discharge. This did not wholly compensate for the lack of a double-bottom and made discharging the unrefined oil in N.Europe during winter time more difficult. Getting the remainder of the expensive oil from the bottom of each tank was an arduous, manual and messy job called "puddling".
She had a 4-cylinder 2-stroke Doxford (Type J) engine. Only 483 feet (147 m) long, but with 28 separate tanks to carry several small parcels of oil cargo, for example, groundnut oil, palm kernel oil and palm oil may be shipped in different grades.
For a long period in the 1970s, following the 1966 National Union of Seaman strike, all deck crew (not officers) were from Galicia in Spain, rather than from the British Shipping Federation.
In 1986 she was taken over by UAC and renamed Matadi.
In 1986 she was sold to Troodos Shipping & Trading Co., London and renamed Modesty.
SS Mendi Palm
1936
Deschimag Seebeck, Bremerhaven - 898
General Cargo
5,419
ex-Leonian
Sold in 1959 to Panama and renamed Rio Yape
SS Niger Palm
1948
Furness Shipbuilding Company, Haverton Hill - 441
General Cargo
5,202
ex-Nigerian
Sold in 1966 to Panama and renamed Triana, but registered in Liberia.
She was eventually scrapped in October 1968
Sold in 1959 to Panama and renamed Irini's Luck, but registered in Lebanon.
Scrapped in June 1963 at Santander, Spain.
MV Tema Palm
1953
AG Weser Seebeckwerft, Bremerhaven - 743
5218080
BVOC
6,255
Sailed under the German flag & operated by a subsidiary company Ölhandel-und Transport-Gesellschaft
1960 transferred to Palm Line (British flag) and renamed Makurdi Palm, then in 1969 sold to Peru and renamed Santamar.
Scrapped in February 1976 at Gadani Beach
SS Volta Palm
1936
Howaldtswerke, Hamburg - 739
General Cargo
5,129
ex-Liberian
Sold in 1954 to Finland and renamed Hermes
In 1958 renamed Noemi
Broken up in December 1960 at Yokosuka.
Bibliography
Kohn, Roger (1970). Palm Line: The Coming of Age 1949–1970. London: Raithby, Lawrence and Company.
Dunn, Laurence & Heaton, P. M. (1994). Palm Line. Abergavenny, Wales: P.M. Heaton Publishing. ISBN1-872006-01-9.
Swiggum, Susan; Kohli, Marjorie (24 October 2005). "Palm Line / United Africa Co". The Ships List. Susan Swiggum & Stephen Morse. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
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