The Fleets
The Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co. was formed in 1826 when the Dundee & Perth Union Shipping Co. amalgamated with the Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., initially to provide cargo and passenger services between the Tay and London, Glasgow (via the Forth & Clyde Canal) and Liverpool. voyages were also made to the Baltic and White Seas for flax and timber. In 1849 the company abandoned the Glasgow and Liverpool trades due to railway competition and increased canal dues.
Their first steamship was the wooden paddle tug SIR WILLIAM WALLACE, built in 1830, used to tow lighters between Dundee and Perth and also carried passengers. In 1834 the company started using steamships on the Dundee to London service, in 1857 the fleet of the Dundee and Hull Shipping Co. was taken over and in 1859 ships were first used in the fruit trade from Greece and Spain.
The fleets of the Dundee & Newcastle Steam Shipping Co. were taken over in 1917, the Kirkcaldy Steamship Co. in 1918, Thomas Cowan & Co. in 1919 and Henry & MacGregor, Leith the same year. By 1926 the company operated a network of services between the Tay and London, Newcastle, Hull, Southampton and Northern France. In 1929 the Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Steam Co. was acquired. During World War II, five of the company's ships were requisitioned and several ships were managed for the Ministry of War Transport. In 1946 a return to deep sea tramping was made with voyages to the Mediterranean and later worldwide. Voyages to the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes started in 1951. In 1961 a minority share was purchased in Channel Shipping Co, Jersey.
Coastal sailings declined in the 1950s and by 1960 the company was trading at a loss and the Dundee - London service was terminated. The last ship was sold in 1967 and the company retired from shipowning.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Sailing Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna | 1813 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1838 sold to J. Webster, Dundee. | 86 |
| Bridport Packet | 1793 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1827 sold to Thomas Keith, Dundee. | 117 |
| Cleopatra | 1847 | schooner, 1863 sold to G. Duncan & Co., London. | 200 |
| Clyde | 1834 | sloop, 1849 sold to Brown & Robertson, Montrose, rigged as schooner. | 74 |
| Courier | 1816 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Union Shipping Co., 1849 sold to J. A. Dickson, Arbroath. | 141 |
| Dame | 1807 | sloop, 1829 purchased from G. Clark, Dundee, 1836 sold to J. Kennedy, Dundee. | 63 |
| Dart | 1836 | sloop, 1849 sold to G. Bruce, Arbroath. | 64 |
| Defiance | 1807 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1827 sold to Arbroath & London Shipping Co., London. | 93 |
| Dundee (1) | 1818 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1834 sold to J. Calman, Dundee. | 151 |
| Elbe | 1816 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Union Shipping Co., 1849 sold to T. Sproat, Kirkcudbright. | 121 |
| Falcon | 1854 | schooner, 1863 sold to G. Hamby, Ipswich. | 122 |
| Fishers | 1820 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1847 sold to P. Henderson, Dundee. | 31 |
| Forfarshire | 1823 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Union Shipping Co., 4th Oct.1832 lost off St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire. | 145 |
| Forth | 1830 | sloop, 1849 sold to J. Crichton, Dundee. | 72 |
| Friends | 1821 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Union Shipping Co., 1832 sold to Greig & Kildour, Kirkcaldy. | 38 |
| George Duncan | 1847 | schooner, 1853 purchased from Dundee & Hull Shipping Co., 23rd Jan.1860 sank near Shipwash Sands, Norfolk. | 158 |
| Gipsy | 1805 | sloop, 1829 purchased from G. Clark, Dundee, 1848 sold to Guthrie & Melville, Arbroath. | 65 |
| Glasgow | 1816 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Union Shipping Co., 1837 sold to S. Wilson, Kirkcudbright. | 107 |
| Jane | 1823 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1848 sold to J. Noble, Fraserburgh. | 69 |
| Lark | 1831 | schooner, 1868 sold to W. Edwards, Newburgh. | 47 |
| Liverpool | 1826 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1826 driven ashore at Great Ormes Head, North Wales, 1827 refloated but condemned and sold at auction to Horn & Hayes, Wexford. | 99 |
| London (1) | 1824 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1847 sold to R. Tosh, Dundee and rigged as schooner. | 115 |
| Lord Kinnaird | 1802 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1829 sold to Scott & Duell, Montrose. | 121 |
| Mary (1) | 1811 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1830 sold to J. M. Vintner, Dundee. | 56 |
| Mary (2) | 1835 | sloop, 1849 sold to Johnston & Ross, Dundee. | 75 |
| Mersey (1) | 1819 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Union Shipping Co., 1830 sold to D. Sutherland, Montrose. | 73 |
| Mersey (2) | 1834 | sloop, 1849 sold to P. Mill, Arbroath, rigged as schooner. | 79 |
| Newcastle & Berwick Packet | 1798 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1831 sold to David Watson, Dundee. | 54 |
| Olive | 1814 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Union Shipping Co., 1834 D. Myles, Dundee, re-rigged as schooner. | 90 |
| Osnaburgh | 1800 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1827 sold to M. Bryde & T. Gray, Montrose. | 104 |
| Perth (1) | 1809 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1830 sold to W. Chapman, Dundee. | 43 |
| Perth (2) | 1816 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1837 sold to G. Cameron, Dundee. | 132 |
| Queen (1) | 1842 | schooner, 1857 taken over with Dundee & Hull Shipping Co., 8th Feb.1861 wrecked in gale on Whitby Sands, Yorkshire. | 115 |
| Roe | 1835 | sloop, 1849 sold to P. Ritchie, Dundee. | 62 |
| Rose (2) | 1828 | sloop, 1849 sold to Rollo & White, Dundee. | 88 |
| Solicitor | 1849 | schooner, 1852 purchased from C. R. Calman, London, 1856 sold to Ellerby & Co., Hull. | 146 |
| Sovereign | 1828 | smack, 1853 sold to G. Brewer, Dundee. | 159 |
| Star | 1831 | sloop, 1849 sold to Allan & Moir, Banff. | 64 |
| Swan | 1830 | sloop, 1868 sold to A. Law, Dundee. | 62 |
| Swift | 1838 | sloop, 1849 sold to P. Gibson, Fort William. | 75 |
| Tay (1) | 1807 | sloop, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1830 sold to John Beatton, Dundee. | 55 |
| Tay (3) | 1830 | sloop, 1868 sold to R. Mudie, Dundee. | 68 |
| Tid | 1800 | schooner, 1829 purchased from G. Clark, Dundee, 1835 ashore on Elbe Sands, River Tay but refloated, 1836 sold to T. Adamson, Dundee. | 80 |
| Union | 1807 | smack, 1826 taken over from Dundee & Perth Shipping Co., 1834 sold to W & E. Kendall, Gloucester re-rigged as schooner. | 113 |
| Victoria | 1849 | schooner, 1863 sold to B. Mason, Hull. | 194 |
| Zenobia | 1847 | schooner, 1861 sold to A. Hunter, London. | 190 |
Steam Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anglia | 1863 | 1871 rebuilt to 827 tons, 1883 sold to George Gibson & Co., Leith. | 664 |
| Angusbrae | 1943 | ex- Hawkinge, 1951 purchased from Constants Ltd, London renamed Angusbrae, 1956 sold to W. H. Muller, Rotterdam renamed Hispania. | 2,905 |
| Angusburn | 1942 | ex- Empire Bard, 1946 purchased from MOWT renamed Angusburn, 1954 sold to Brebbner Shipping Co., London renamed Brettenhamn. | 2,851 |
| Angusmuir | 1928 | ex- Clunepark, 1948 purchased from J & J. Denholm, Greenock renamed Angusmuir, 1954 sold to Costa Rica renamed Aguila. | 3,535 |
| Aniline | 1889 | lighter, 1924 purchased from J. Ross & Co, Falkirk, 1942 sold to Aldridges Wharf Ltd, Hull. | 49 |
| Arbroath (1) | see Perth (4). | ||
| Arbroath (2) | 1909 | ex- Alexandra, 1920 war prize from Riga-Lubeck Line, Lubeck, renamed Arbroath,1922 sold to South Shipping Co., Quebec renamed Gaspesia, 1928 sold to Clarke SS Co., Quebec., 1946 renamed North Voyageur. | 1,014 |
| Arbroath (3) | 1935 | 1962 sold to J. Tyrrell, Dublin renamed Valzell. | 553 |
| Atlas | 1865 | iron paddle tug, 1873 sold to Edwards & Anderson, Dundee. | 96 |
| Benvie | 1905 | tug, ex- Flying Swallow, 1946 purchased from Clyde Shipping Co., Glasgow renamed Benvie, 1953 scrapped. | 185 |
| Britannia | 1877 | 1889 sold to George Gibson & Co., Leith. | 938 |
| Broughty (1) | 1921 | 1951 sold to J & A. Gardner Ltd, Glasgow renamed St. Ronaig. | 504 |
| Broughty (2) | 1955 | 1962 sold to Channel Shipping Ltd, Jersey. | 553 |
| Buddon | 1908 | tug, ex- Flying Cormorant, 1946 purchased from Clyde Shipping Co., Glasgow renamed Buddon, 1953 scrapped. | 203 |
| Cambria | 1868 | 1873 rebuilt to 944 tons, 1891 beached near Great Yarmouth after collision with s/s Killingworth and abandoned. | 729 |
| Carbon | 1904 | 1920 renamed Fair City, 1946 laid up at Dundee, 1947 sold to Tay Sand Co., Dundee renamed Tayfirth. | 131 |
| Caroline | n/a | wooden ship, built as sailing vessel but 1890 purchased from Gunn & Kidd, Dundee and converted to steamer, 1904 scrapped. | 121 |
| Clova | 1935 | ex- Andoni, 1936 purchased from T. Evans & Co., London renamed Clova, 1954 sold to Lockett Wilson Line, London renamed Clichy. | 310 |
| Cortachy | 1934 | ex- Arrivain, 1939 purchased from D. Williamson Ltd, London renamed Cortachy, 1953 sold to Lockett Wilson Ltd, Jersey, 1955 renamed Concorde. | 271 |
| Crombie | 1934 | ex- Affaric, 1939 purchased from D. Williamson, London renamed Crombie, 1954 sold to Lockett Wilson Line, Jersey. | 239 |
| Dron | 1936 | ex- Conida, 1945 purchased from Steamship Den of Airlie Co. Ltd renamed Dron, 1950 sold to Wharton Shipping Ltd, Goole renamed Jackonia. | 413 |
| Dundee (2) | 1834 | wooden paddle steamer, 1864 sold to France renamed Nettuno. | 638 |
| Dundee (3) | 1883 | 1885 sold to Italian Government renamed Volta. | 1,565 |
| Dundee (4) | 1885 | 3rd Dec.1909 beached in River Medway after collision with s/s Thames, later slipped off into deep water and capsized. 1910 raised and scrapped. | 1,305 |
| Dundee (5) | 1911 | 1915 commissioned as Armed Boarding Steamer with 10th Cruiser Squadron, 3rd Sep.1917 torpedoed and sunk by UC.19 in English Channel ; loss of 8 lives. | 2,187 |
| Dundee (6) | 1919 | laid down as War Wensum, completed as Dundee, 1933 sold to Mossgiel SS Co., Glasgow renamed Alcora. | 1,381 |
| Dundee (7) | 1934 | 1943 requisitioned as convoy rescue ship, 1945 returned to owners, 1948 sold to British & Continental SS Co., Liverpool renamed Dotterel. | 1,541 |
| Dundee (8) | 1954 | 1967 sold to Israel renamed Doron. | 1,781 |
| Eagle | 1858 | 1871 sold to Barr & Fawcett, Leith. | 318 |
| Edina | 1939 | 1946 purchased from Currie Line, Leith, 1948 renamed Gowrie, 1958 sold to W.. McTaggart, Grand Cayman renamed Fordmac. | 489 |
| Errol (1) | 1920 | ex- Evelyn Manor, 1932 purchased from J.Alison, Dundee renamed Errol, 30th Jul.1935 sunk in collision with s/s Cairnesk near Inchkeith. | 396 |
| Errol (2) | 1936 | ex- Kestor, 1939 purchased from H. Harrison, London renamed Errol, 1955 sold to Channel Shipping Ltd, Jersey, 1958 renamed Grouville. | 311 |
| Fair City | see Carbon. | ||
| Gala | 1939 | 1940 rebuilt to 99 tons, 1962 sold to Ellerman Wilson Line, Hull. | 86 |
| Gallia | 1865 | 1868 sold to H. C. Moss, London renamed Victoria. | 441 |
| Gannochy | 1937 | ex- Springhaven, 1947 purchased from Springfjord Shipping Co., London renamed Gannochy, 25th Feb.1958 sank in Mersey Channel. | 485 |
| Glamis | 1936 | 1961 sold to Georgeopoulos, Piraeus renamed Romylia. | 555 |
| Gowrie (1) | 1909 | 10th Oct.1917 torpedoed and sunk by U.53 off Cherbourg. | 1,031 |
| Gowrie (2) | 1909 | ex- Haller, 1919 purchased from G. R. Haller Ltd, Hull renamed Gowrie, 9th Jan.1940 sunk by German air attack off Stonehaven. | 689 |
| Gowrie (3) | 1941 | ex- Empire Cape, 1944 managed for MOWT, 1945 purchased from MOWT renamed Gowrie, 1948 renamed Lochee, 1966 sold to Zoulis & Vlachos, Piraeus. | 872 |
| Gowrie (4) | see Edina. | ||
| Gowrie (5) | 1944 | ex- Highland, 1959 purchased from Currie Line, Leith renamed Gowrie, 1963 sold to Greece renamed Hermanos. | 1,876 |
| Hamburg | 1857 | 1863 sold to General Steam Nav. Co., London. | 385 |
| Hercules (1) | 1849 | wooden paddle tug, 1853 sold to John Oswald, Melbourne. | 97 |
| Hercules (2) | 1853 | wooden paddle tug, 1865 sold to D. Edwards, Dundee. | 62 |
| Hibernia | 1865 | 30th Jan.1876 stranded on Farne Islands, Northumberland, refloated but grounded Holy Island and broke in two. | 658 |
| Hull | see London (4). | ||
| Kildrummy | 1924 | 1937 taken over with Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Shipping Co., Aberdeen, 1946 transferred to Coquet Shipping Co., Newcastle renamed Coquetdale. | 629 |
| Kingennie | 1958 | 1967 sold to Cambridge (Tankers) Ltd, London. | 1,169 |
| Kirkaline | 1918 | lighter, 1924 purchased from Smiths Dock Ltd, Middlesbrough, 1941 sold to F. Oldridge, Bilton. | 152 |
| Lady Gwendolen | 1911 | 1918 purchased from British & Irish S.P. Co., Dublin, 1919 sold to C. T. Bowring, Liverpool renamed Rosalind. | 2,163 |
| Lochee (1) | 1918 | 1936 sold to Dorey & Sons Ltd, Guernsey renamed Portelet. | 1,064 |
| Lochee (2) | 1937 | 1948 renamed Perth, 1953 rebuilt to 1,321 tons, 1963 sold to Marcantonalis, Piraeus renamed Manthos. | 994 |
| Lochee (3) | see Gowrie (3). | ||
| London (2) | 1837 | wooden paddle steamer, 1853 sold to Sydney & Melbourne S.P. Co., Melbourne. | 687 |
| London (3) | 1854 | 1854 sold to Barker & Ford, London. | 512 |
| London (4) | 1856 | London (4) 1856 622 tons, 18th Nov.1865 sank after collision with s/s Harvest Queen in River Tay, 1866 salvaged and repaired, 1872 rebuilt to 763 tons, 1892 renamed Hull, 20th Jan.1897 beached off Tayport, Fife after collision with s/s Alice Taylor, 1909 scrapped. | 622 |
| London (5) | 1892 | 23rd Jun.1918 torpedoed and sunk by U.88 off Whitby. | 1,706 |
| London (6) | 1921 | 1939 requisitioned by The Admiralty as Examination vessel renamed Holdfast, 1942 converted to pipe laying vessel for Operation Pluto, 1946 sold to Ministry of Transport renamed Empire Taw. | 1,491 |
| London (7) | 1951 | 1964 sold to Winsor Trading Co., St. John's NF renamed Winsor Trader. | 706 |
| Louga | 1898 | 1919 purchased from T. Cowan, Grangemouth, 1937 sold to Lithuania renamed Nida. | 945 |
| Lunan | 1946 | 1959 sold to Orleans Navigation Inc, Quebec in damaged condition after grounding and fire, renamed Maridan C. | 1,018 |
| Mars | 1848 | 3rd May 1851 struck rock and sank near Crail, Fife. | 89 |
| Neptune | 1848 | 1851 rebuilt to 111 tons, 1854 sold to G. lison, Dundee, converted to schooner. | 89 |
| North Inch | 1904 | ex- Garmoyle, 1919 purchased from Henry & MacGregor Ltd, Leith renamed North Inch, 1921 sold to McPhail, Glasgow renamed Stronshira. | 100 |
| North Sea | 1881 | 1896 sold to North Sea SS Co., Dundee, wrecked the same year. | 1,117 |
| Perth (3) | 1834 | wooden paddle steamer, 1861 sold to General Steam Nav. Co., London. | 635 |
| Perth (4) | 1890 | 1915 renamed Arbroath, 1917 requisitioned by The Admiralty as transport, 1919 returned to owners, 1920 sold to British & South American S.N. Co. (Houston Line), Liverpool renamed Hellopes. | 1,729 |
| Perth (5) | 1915 | 1915 commissioned as Armed Boarding Steamer based in Red Sea, 1919 returned to owners, 1940 requisitioned and used as convoy rescue ship, 1945 returned to owners, 1946 sold to Falkland Islands Co., London renamed Lafonia. | 2,208 |
| Perth (6) | see Lochee (2). | ||
| Queen (2) | 1854 | 1857 taken over with Dundee & Hull Shipping Co., 1876 sold to W. B. Thompson, Dundee. | 294 |
| Red Sea | 1889 | 1892 sold to Booth SS Co., Liverpool renamed Hilary. | 1,930 |
| Rosyth (1) | 1903 | 1919 purchased from Wear Steam Shipping Co., Sunderland, 1934 sold to W. J. Ireland, Liverpool renamed Quickthorn. | 409 |
| Rosyth (2) | see Yendis. | ||
| Samson | 1857 | iron paddle tug, 1869 sold to A. Edwards, Dundee. | 82 |
| Scotia (1) | 1861 | 1862 sold to Italy renamed Adriatico. | 655 |
| Scotia (2) | 1862 | 1869 rebuilt to 802 tons, 3rd Aug.1870 sunk in collision with s/s Magna Charta off Gotland, Sweden. | 658 |
| Scotia (3) | 1875 | 1880 sold to France renamed Finistere. | 453 |
| Sir William Wallace | 1830 | wooden paddle tug, 1842 converted to lighter, 1851 scrapped. | 70 |
| Tay & Tyne | 1909 | 1917 taken over with Dundee & Newcastle SS Co., 1917 sold to The Admiralty for use as a 'Q' ship. | 556 |
| W | 1891 | lighter, 1930 purchased from Charles Wood, Leith, 1930 sold to J. White, North Queensferry. | 73 |
| White Sea | 1881 | 1896 sold to Palgrave, Murphy & Co., Dublin renamed City of Cologne. | 1,119 |
| Yendis | 1911 | 1930 purchased from Spillers Ltd, Hull, 1935 renamed Rosyth, 1949 sold to G. T. MacLennan, Dundee renamed David P. | 132 |
Managed Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babylon | 1896 | ex- German vessel owned by Deutsche Levante Linie, 1920 managed for the Shipping Controller, London, 1920 sold to Greek Government. | 1,596 |
| Empire Cape | see Gowrie (3). | ||
| Empire Conisborough | 1937 | ex- Marie Fisser, 1945 war prize from Fisser & Von Doornum, Emden renamed Empire Conisborough and managed for MOWT, 1946 allocated to USSR renamed Stepan Shaumian. | 1,237 |
| Empire Garland | 1944 | ex- Njong, 1945 war prize from Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie, Hamburg renamed Empire Garland and managed for MOWT, 1947 sold to General Steam Nav. Co. renamed Sheldrake. | 1,925 |
| Goole | 1891 | 1940 managed for V. A. Cappon, Dundee, 1946 scrapped. | 149 |
| Lilleaa | 1922 | 1940 taken over from D/S Hetland A/S, Copenhagen managed for MOWT, 1945 returned to Danish Government. | 936 |
| Mentor | 1883 | 1940 managed for V. A. Cappon, Dundee, 1946 scrapped. | 141 |
| Rom | 1905 | ex- German owned by R. M. Sloman, Hamburg, 1920 managed for the Shipping Controller, London, 1920 sold to Cormack & Co., Leith renamed Arniston. | 2,080 |