This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

F.H.Bertling (German Shipping Company)

Last modified: 2019-08-06 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: bertling | f.h.bertling | luebeck-koenigsberger dg |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors




[F.H.Bertling houseflag] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2009 See also:

Brief History

F.H. Bertling was established in 1865 by Friedrich Heinrich Bertling, who became later senator of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck (1893) and consul of the Kingdom of Norway. He promoted the construction of Elbe-Lübeck Channel , which connected the Baltic with the system of German Rivers. His idea had been the connection of transport by sea and land and of German industrial centres with Scandinavia and the states on the Baltics' shores. In 1885 he established shipping lines to St. Petersburg and Riga. In 1900 an own steamship company was established. The consul died in 1916 and business was continued by his proxy C.W.L. Heinemeier. In 1941 the Bertling fleet was confiscated by the German Navy. In 1951 the "MS URSULA HEINEMEIER" could be regained. In the 1970ies and 1980ies the company expanded with branches in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In 1976 a charter bureau opened in Hamburg. Since 1997 the fleet continuously grew and branches were established in Lima, Santiago de Chile and Shanghai.
Source: information provided by Klaus-Peter Bühne
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 July 2019

The company was representing Mediterranian Shipping Co. S.A. of Geneva (MSC) until 30 June 2006, then MSC opened its own branch in Hamburg.
Both companies obviously also today are working hand in hand and share the same building  at Willy-Brandt-Str.49 in Hamburg.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2009


Current Flag

It is a white flag with three waves: light blue above blue above very dark blue. In the lower fly is the name "Bertling" in very dark blue italics.
Source: I spotted this flag on top of companies building on 21 March 2007. Its flag was bigger than that one of MSC.
You can also see a photo of this flag on the website of J.Nüsse.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2009


Flag reported 1905

[F.H.Bertling 1905 houseflag] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 July 2019

The company was based in Lübeck. The flag was blue with white unserifed initials in each corner as follows: "L" (upper hoist) "K" (upper fly) "D" (lower hoist and "G" (lower fly). In centre was a white lozenge with black serifed inscription "FHB". The funnels were black.
Source: Flaggenbuch 1905, part V, p.22, image no.618
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 July 2019


Lübeck-Königsberger Dampfschiff Gesellschaft

[F.H.Bertling 1905 houseflag] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 July 2019

The company was based in Lübeck. The flag was blue with white unserifed initials in each corner as follows: "L" (upper hoist) "K" (upper fly) "D" (lower hoist and "G" (lower fly). In centre was a white lozenge with black unserifed inscription "FHB". Basically the same flag as the houseflag of Bertling, but the funnels were yellow.
Source: Flaggenbuch 1905, part V, p.22, image no.619
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 July 2019


Flag 1937 - 1969

[F.H.Bertling 1937 - 1969 houseflag] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Aug 2019

It was a green-white-green horizontal triband. The white stripe had a black inscription "FHB".
Source: Josef Nüsse's webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Aug 2019


Flag reported 1956/57

[F.H.Bertling 1956/57 houseflag] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Mar 2009

In those years the company ran the vessel "M.S. URSULA HEINEMEIER".
The flag a horizontal green over white over green triband. In the white stripe were black, serifed, dotted capitals "F.H.B." and in the centre of the upper green stripe was a black 5-point star.
Source: "Deutsche Reedereien u. ihre Erkennungszeichen"; Hamburg 1956; edited by ESSO AG; p.11
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Mar 2009


back to back to B-companies main page click here