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British shipping companies (N)

Last modified: 2021-05-29 by rob raeside
Keywords: shipping lines |
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See also:

Nomadic Steamship Co., Ltd.

Joss Sons & Co.

[Nomadic Steamship Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

The Nomadic Steamship Co. Ltd., managed by John Joss, voluntarily wound up on 6 May 1915 (The London Gazette, 11 May 1915).
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29159/supplements/4575/page.pdf

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Nomadic Steamship Co., Ltd. (Joss Sons & Co.) (#1832, p. 124), a London-based shipping company, as white with a red rising half-sun.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#89
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021


Nomikos (London) Ltd

[London Court Line Ltd. houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, 20 September 2005

Nomikos (London) Ltd, London - Israeli-style flag; in center blue cross formy.
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 20 September 2005


Norships Ocean Carriers, Ltd. (Ship Finance & Management Co. Ltd.)

[Norships Ocean Carriers, Ltd houseflag] image by Phil Nelson, 6 April 2000

from Stewart and Styring's Flags, Funnels and Hull Colors 1963

Norships Ocean Carriers Ltd. This is one that you may wish to toss a coin as to what name it should be shown under. In Brown 1951 it is recorded for Ship Finance & Management Co. Ltd. They operated various companies, several of which had name beginning with "N" and ships with a 1st name of "Lord" indicating that they were connected and probably were subsidiaries. Norships Ocean Carriers Ltd. do not appear in Lloyds Shipowners 1953-4 but one company in the above category, Norwood Steamship Co. Ltd., does and this explains why Stewart 1953 and 1957 show the livery for both Ships Finance & Management and Norwood Steamship. By 1958 the companies operated by Ships Finance & Management appear to have been consolidated into Norships Ocean Carriers Ltd. which explains why Stewart 1963 and US Navy record it under that name (ignoring the operator). By the beginning of the 1970s the fleet appears to be under Norships Freighters Inc. with all other names, including Ship Finance, disappeared from the scene. The answer to all this, it seems, is one of the "London" Greeks, George Nilcolaou Ltd., being behind everything, certainly noted as agents for the last mentioned company and actually shown by US Navy 1961 as well for the livery but under the Greek section despite domiciling in London.
Neale Rosanoski
, 26 February 2004


North British Railway Co.

Clyde Steamers

North British Railway houseflag image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 6 May 2010

The originally operated the Clyde Steamers.

The North British Railway was earlier than its rivals in operating its own steamers rather than relying on private owners to provide connections at the railheads. The Railway established the North British Steam Packet Company to run services from the railhead at Helensburgh to Dunoon and Rothesay and also to Ardrishaig, in competition with the route to the West Highlands operated by David Hutcheson. Two large steamers were ordered for the 1866 season which ended in operational and financial failure. A more limited service was resumed in 1869 and a regular service was established from the north bank of the Clyde.
[...]
The North British took direct control of its steamship subsidiary in 1902 until 1923 when the NB was amalgamated with other railway lines into the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). Railway amalgamation left the LNER steamers independent, but facing a stronger combined CSP/LMS fleet operating from Gourock on the south bank and from other Ayrshire piers.
Railway amalgamation in 1923 left the North British fleet in competition with a newly combined CSP/GSWR fleet and only added two units to its ageing fleet. With Marmion and Waverley (I), which had been withdrawn at the end of the 1938 season, lost during World War Two and Lucy Ashton 57 years old at the end of hostilities, plans were made for new tonnage. A new paddle steamer, Waverley was introduced for the 1947 season, the last before railway nationalisation and the transfer of the vessels to the British Transport Commission and later to its newly acquired subsidiary, the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, the LNER's former bitter rivals. Waverley was the last paddler and last steamship built for the Clyde, the last paddler to remain on the Clyde. Since 1975 she has steamed for private owners, including from a re-opened Helensburgh, the pier from which the story of railway-owned steamers was begun by the LNER's predecessors.

Clyde Steamers
http://www.clydesteamers.co.uk/LNER%20Steamers.html

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the same flag (#1712, p. 118) for North British Railway Co. (Clyde Steamers).
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#83
Ivan Sache, 3 May 2021

See also:


North Eastern Steam Fishing Co., Ltd.

[North Eastern Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 27 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of the North Eastern Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. (#775, p. 73), a Grimsby-based company, as blue with a white diamond in the center.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/38/
Ivan Sache, 27 April 2021


North East Towing Ltd.

[North East Towing Ltd. houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, 9 September 2005

North East Towing Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne - white flag, black connected "NE".
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 9 September 2005


North Lancashire Steam Navigation Co., Ltd

[North Lancashire Steam Navigation Co., Ltd houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 3 May 2021

The North Lancashire Steam Navigation Company introduced a twice weekly service to the island [Isle of Man], on a year round basis, in 1845 using the paddle steamers Orion and Fenella. Orion had been built in 1841 and Fenella in 1846. The service was abandoned in December 1846 and reverted to the seasonal summer service begun by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s paddle steamer, Mona’s Isle in 1842. [...]
Between 1842 and 1876 summer season sailings were maintained between Fleetwood and Douglas by North Lancashire Steam Navigation Company and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, sometimes operating jointly. Between 1876 and 1961 ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company were the sole operators of the service[...].

Fleetwood's Maritime Heritage
http://www.fleetwoods-maritime-heritage.info/?page_id=71

The first services from Fleetwood to the North of Ireland were started in 1843 by the North Lancashire SN Co. By an Act of 1870, the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (LYR) and the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) obtained powers to run steamers from Fleetwood to Belfast and Londonderry. The North Lancashire SN Co owned three paddle steamers at this time, of which the Royal Consort was taken over by the LYR/LNWR joint companies, who retained the black funnel with a white band for their own ships.

Simplon
http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/LMS_LYR1.html

The first steamship owned by the North Lancashire SN Co was the iron-hulled Prince of Wales. She was built in 1842 for the company's Fleetwood-Ardrossan service. In March 1843 she opened the Belfast-Fleetwood-Ardrossan service. In March 1843 she opened the Belfast-Fleetwood route and for the next seventeen years was regularly employed on it.
In the early 1860s she was chartered for a few weeks on both the Belfast-Liverpool and Belfast-Ardrossan routes and in 1863 was chartered by the Great Eastern Railway for the opening of the Harwich-Rotterdam service, fore-runner of today's Harwich-Hook route. After this she returned to Belfast and worked to Silloth until 1865. In her early days she was a popular excursion steamer.
In June 1849 she and the Adrossan steamer Fire Fly went on what must have been, with two steamers, a monster excursion to Rathlin. In July of the same year she acted as flag-ship for the Belfast Harbour Commissioners at the opening of the Victoria Channel.

Tod & McGregor Shiplist
http://www.gregormacgregor.com/Tod&Macgregor/Prince_of_Wales_36.htm

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of North Lancashire Steamship Co., Ltd. (#1710, p. 118), a Fleetwood-based shipping company, as white with a thin red cross, in the middle, a red rosette, in the respective quarters, the green letters "N", "L", "S" and "C".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#83

Tod & McGregor Shiplist describes a completely different house flag:

The services to the North of Ireland via Fleetwood were established in 1843 by the North Lancashire Steam Navigation Co. as subsidiary of F Kemp & Company, Fleetwood. The flag of the company was red with white St George's cross, having in the middle a green three-leaved shamrock, symbolising, no doubt, the facilities provided for transport between England & Ireland. Funnels were black with a white band, an exceedingly smart combination.
Ivan Sache, 3 May 2021


North Lincolnshire Steamship Fishing Co.

[North Lincolnshire Steamship Fishing Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 3 April 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "North Lincolnshire Steamship Fishing Co., Ltd. Co." (#287, p. 50), a company based in Grimsby, as blue with a white ring charged with a white "L" in the middle.
Ivan Sache
, 3 April 2008 


North of Scotland and Orkney and Shetland Steam Navigation Co.

[North of Scotland and Orkney and Shetland houseflag] image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 9 January 2008

The flag is horizontally divided blue-white-blue.

Formed as the Aberdeen, Leith & Clyde Shipping Company. Incorporated in 1875 as the North of Scotland & Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Co. with offices in Aberdeen. Became Limited in 1919.
Ran shipping service between Shetland, Orkney and the Scottish mainland. Also owned a hotel on Shetland. Still operating in the 1930’s but probably nationalised in 1947 along with the railways.

https://www.scripoworld.com/records/united-kingdom/scotland/north-of-scotland-orkney-shetland-steam-navigation-company/
ScripoWorld

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of N. of Scotland & Orkney & Shetland S. Nav. Co. (#165, p. 44) as horizontally divided blue-white-blue.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#9
Ivan Sache, 21 April 2021


North Sea Ferries

[North Sea Ferries houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, 10 December 2005

North Sea Ferries, Hull - diagonally divided, blue in lower hoist, white in broad stripe in centre, white in upper hoist.  Blue and light blue separated by thin white bar. On light blue panel and oval logo showing a stylized ship made of horizontal white lines on a dark blue sea.
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 10 December 2005


North Thames Gas Board

[North Thames Gas Board houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.

From the website of the National Maritime Museum, "the house flag of the North Thames Gas Board, London. A white flag with a red rising sun motif in the centre and the black letters 'NTGB' in the corners. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and toggle is attached."
Jarig Bakker, 22 August 2004

[North Thames Gas Board houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker

Brown (1951) shows shows the same flag with blue letters.
Jarig Bakker, 22 August 2004


Northumbrian Shipping Corporation, Ltd.

((Leonard Macarthy)

[Northumbrian Shipping Corporation, Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Northumbrian Shipping Corporation, Ltd. (Leonard Macarthy) (#1163, p. 92), a Newcastle-based company, as swallow-tailed, blue with the white letters "L.M.".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#57
Ivan Sache, 29 April 2021


Northwold Steam Fishing Co.

[Northwold Steam Fishing Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 27 April 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Northwold Steam Fishing Co., Ltd" (#321, p. 52), a company based in Grimsby, as red with a white "W" inscribed in a white ring.
Ivan Sache
, 27 April 2008 


North Yorkshire Shipping Co. Ltd.

[North Yorkshire Shipping Co. Ltd. houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.

From the website of the National Maritime Museum, "the house flag of the North Yorkshire Shipping Co. Ltd., London. A green flag with a white rose in the centre. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. The design is printed. A rope and toggle is attached."
Jarig Bakker, 22 August 2004


James Nourse Ltd

[James Nourse Ltd houseflag] image by Phil Nelson, 9 April 2000

from Stewart and Styring's Flags, Funnels and Hull Colors 1963

Formed by Capt. James Nourse in 1861 at Greenock, but transferred to London in 1864. Many of the company's early voyages were between Calcutta and Australian ports but Nourse soon entered the India to the West Indies trade carrying indentured labour for the plantations. Standards aboard the ships were high and the native passengers were said to be in better health when they arrived than when they left India.[...]
It wasn't until 1904 that the company took delivery of their first steamship having persevered with sail, mainly for economic reasons and the lack of coaling facilities between India and the West Indies. In 1917P & O Line purchased a controlling interest in the company, but there was no obvious change. In 1932 the majority interest passed to British India S.N. Co., but by 1955 the entire holding passed back to P & O. The trade between India and the West Indies gradually declined in the 1950s and several of the company's ships spent long periods on charter to other P & O group fleets. By 1965 the company had diversified into tramp shipping and amalgamated with Hain Line to form Hain-Nourse Ltd.

The ShipsList
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/nourse.shtml

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the same flag (#1568, p. 111).
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#76

Photo
http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/company-guides/james-nourse
Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021


British Shipping lines: continued