The Fleets
In 1867 Alan C. Gow took delivery of a sailing ship which he used on the Glasgow / Liverpool - Cape Horn - Chile trade. The following year he purchased a second vessel and started the practise of naming his ships GLEN______. The opening of the Suez Canal was a large factor in the decision to operate steamships in the China tea trade and the company started this operation in 1870 and moved their home port to London.
James McGregor was put in charge of the company's steamship activities and by 1880 had become the senior partner and the company became McGregor, Gow & Company. South America sailings ceased the same year and the company concentrated on the India and Far East routes. In 1910 Glen Line Ltd was formed and came under the control of Elder Dempster & Co. in 1911.
Glen and Shire Lines were fused in 1912 but remained in the ownership of their original firms, but in 1920 the two companies were amalgamated. In 1931 the Kylsant shipping empire which owned Elder Dempster & Co. and the Glen and Shire Lines collapsed and in 1935 Alfred Holt & Co. (Blue Funnel Line) purchased both the Glen and Shire Lines and the ships were re-registered at Liverpool instead of London. From then, ships were frequently transferred between Glen, Shire, Blue Funnel Lines and China Mutual S.N.Co.
In 1972 the name of the owning company became Ocean Transport & Trading Co. and in 1974 joined forces with William Thomson's Ben Line to operate Ben-Ocean Services. By 1978 the last of the Glen Line ships had been sold, Glen Line became a non-shipowning name and in 1990 the name and corporate assets of Glen Line Ltd were purchased by Curnow Shipping Ltd., Cornwall.
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.
Routes
Sail
- 1869-1880 Glasgow - Liverpool - South America
- Glasgow - Liverpool - South America - Woosung, China - UK.
Steam
- 1870 London - Madras - Calcutta
- 1871-1907 (Glasgow) - London - (Hamburg) - Penang - Singapore - China - London - (Continent) - (UK East Coast ports)
- 1907-1935 London - (Continent) - Genoa - (Mediterranean ports) - Peneng - Singapore - (Manila) - Hong Kong - Shanghai - Japan.
- 1935-1978 Alfred Holt policy was for Glen Line to serve London and the East Coast ports and Blue Funnel to cover the West Coast ports. Middlesbrough - Immingham - Hamburg - Rotterdam - Antwerp - London - (Marseilles) - (Genoa) - Port Said - Penang - Singapore - Hong Kong - Manila - (Chinese ports) - Shanghai - (Japanese ports) - Kobe - Vladivostok or Shanghai - Dairen. Returning via the same ports plus Colombo - Port Said - Alexandria - North Africa - Genoa - (Marseilles) - London - Rotterdam - Hamburg - Antwerp - UK East Coast ports.
- The express service collected cargo in Europe and usually called at Singapore - Hong Kong - Shanghai - Kobe.
Sailing Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estrella de Chile | 1867 | barque, 1888 wrecked. | 582 |
| Glenaray | 1869 | ship, 1873 name in Lloyds Register shown as Glenary, 1874 corrected to Glenaray, sold to J. Spence, Glasgow. | 661 |
| Glenavon (1) | 1869 | ship, 1880 sold to R. C. Hall, Cork. | 1,125 |
Steam Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breckonshire (1) | 1939 | requisitioned as HMS Breckonshire, 1942 bombed and sunk at Malta. | 9,776 |
| Breckonshire (2) | 1940 | 1941 requisitioned and renamed Empire Activity, 1942 became HMS Activity, 1946 returned to Glen Line renamed Breckonshire, 1967 scrapped. | 9,061 |
| Cardiganshire (1) | 1950 | completed as Bellerophon (3) for Blue Funnel Line, 1957 transferred to Glen Line renamed Cardiganshire, 1972 reverted to Bellerophon, 1976 sold to Saudi-Europe Line renamed Obhor. | 7,707 |
| Carnarvonshire | 1914 | 1933 transferred from Shire Line, 1936 scrapped. | 9,406 |
| Denbighshire | 1938 | 1967 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Sarpedon (6), 1969 scrapped. | 8,983 |
| Flintshire | 1923 | ex- Dardanus (3), 1935 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Flintshire, 1939 transferred to Blue Funnel Line reverted to Dardanus, 1942 bombed, shelled and sunk by Japanese off Indian coast. | 7,823 |
| Flintshire (3) | 1943 | ex- Samgara, 1947 purchased by Blue Funnel Line renamed Titan (3), 1950 transferred to Glen Line renamed Flintshire, 1958 reverted to Titan, Blue Funnel Line, 1962 sold to Liberia renamed Titanus. | 7,297 |
| Flintshire (4) | 1962 | 1978 sold to Liberia renamed Orient Express. | 11,926 |
| Glenade | 1919 | 1923 sold to Pacific Steam Nav.Co renamed Loreto. | 6,682 |
| Glenaffric (1) | 1920 | ex- Machaon (2), 1935 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Glenaffric, 1947 reverted to Machaon, 1950 reverted to Glenaffric, 1951 scrapped. | 7,806 |
| Glenaffric (3) | 1952 | ex- Nestor (4), 1968 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Glenaffric, 1970 reverted to Blue Funnel Line renamed Orestes (5), 1971 sold to Greece renamed Aegis Dignity. | 7,802 |
| Glenalmond (1) | 1966 | 1973 transferred to China Mutual S.N.Co renamed Patroclus (5), 1982 sald to Saudia Arabia renamed Rajab I. | 12,229 |
| Glenalmond (2) | 1950 | ex- Patroclus (4), 1972 transferred from China Mutual S.N.Co renamed Glenalmond, 1972 returned to China Mutual S.N.Co renamed Philotectes (2), 1974 scrapped. | 10,109 |
| Glenamoy | 1916 | 1936 scrapped. | 7,269 |
| Glenapp (1) | 1918 | 1920 sold to Elder Dempster & Co renamed Aba. | 7,374 |
| Glenapp (2) | 1920 | 1949 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Dardanus (4) | 9,503 |
| Glenariffe | 1919 | 1923 sold to Pacific Steam Nav.Co renamed Loriga. | 6,665 |
| Glenartney (1) | 1873 | 1889 sold to G. Tweedy & Co., London renamed Chongar. | 2,143 |
| Glenartney (2) | 1889 | 1904 sold to Japan renamed Taikosan Maru. | 3,026 |
| Glenartney (3) | 1915 | ex- Montezuma, 1915 transferred from Elder Dempster & Co renamed Glenartney, 1918 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine off Cape Bon, Mediterranean. | 7,263 |
| Glenartney (4) | 1940 | 1967 scrapped. | 9,795 |
| Glenavon (2) | 1881 | 1898 wrecked on Chinese coast. | 2,985 |
| Glenavon (3) | 1904 | ex- Branksome Hall, 1906 chartered from Ellerman's Hall Line renamed Glenavon, 1910 returned to Ellerman Line reverted to Branksome Hall. | 4,262 |
| Glenavy | 1917 | 1923 sold to Pacific Steam Nav.Co renamed Lagarto. | 5,075 |
| Glenbeg (1) | 1922 | 1949 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Dymas (1) | 9,641 |
| Glenbeg (2) | 1944 | ex- Samjack, 1947 purchased by Blue Funnel Line renamed Tydeus (2), 1950 transferred to Glen Line renamed Glenbeg, sold to Panama renamed Roan. | 7,234 |
| Glenbeg (3) | 1956 | ex- Diomed (5), 1970 transferred from China Mutual S.N.Co renamed Glenbeg, 1972 reverted to Diomed, China Mutual S.N.Co, 1973 sold to Macao renamed Kaising. | 7,980 |
| Glencoe | 1878 | 1889 ashore after collision in English Channel, total loss. | 2,913 |
| Gleneagles | 1877 | 1893 sold to France renamed Charles Martel. | 2,798 |
| Glenearn (1) | 1873 | 1898 sold to Mossgiel S.S.Co. | 2,151 |
| Glenearn (2) | 1905 | 1905 chartered from Ellerman's Hall Line, 1910 returned to Ellerman Line renamed Netherby Hall. | 4,461 |
| Glenearn (3) | 1914 | 1914 seized by Germans at Hamburg, 1918 returned to Britain, owned by the Shipping Controller, 1920 sold to William Thomas Shipping Co, London renamed Cambrian Princess. | 4,828 |
| Glenearn (4) | 1930 | ex- Tolten, 1933 purchased from Lowden, Connell & Co., Liverpool renamed Glenearn, 1935 sold to Lowden, Connell & Co. reverted to Tolten. | 5,348 |
| Glenearn (5) | 1938 | 1970 scrapped. | 9,784 |
| Glenelg | 1883 | 1884 wrecked off Ushant. | 3,034 |
| Glenesk | 1891 | 1912 sold to Japan renamed Kenkon Maru. | 3,524 |
| Glenfalloch (1) | 1873 | 1897 sold to Singapore. | 2,157 |
| Glenfalloch (2) | 1963 | 1978 sold to Peoples Republic of China renamed Qing He Cheng. | 11,926 |
| Glenfarg | 1894 | 1914 struck a rock and sank off Japan. | 3,647 |
| Glenfinlas (1) | 1874 | 1890 sold to W. Jobling (Glenfinlas SS Co.) | 2,154 |
| Glenfinlas (2) | 1917 | ex- Elpenor, 1935 transferred from China Mutual S.N.Co. renamed Glenfinlas, 1947 reverted to Elpenor, 1950 reverted to Glenfinlas, 1952 scrapped. | 7,601 |
| Glenfinlas (3) | 1946 | completed as Calchas for China Mutual S.N.Co., 1957 chartered to Glen Line renamed Glenfinlas, 1962 reverted to Calchas, 1973 scrapped after fire at Kelang, Malaysia. | 7,639 |
| Glenfinlas (4) | 1967 | 1972 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Phemius (5), 1978 transferred to China Nav.Co. renamed Kweichow. | 12,094 |
| Glenfruin (1) | 1880 | 1897 sold to McIlwraith, McEachern Ltd, Australia renamed Kalgoolie. | 2,985 |
| Glenfruin (2) | 1948 | completed as Astyanax (2) for China Mutual S.N.Co, 1957 chartered to Glen Line renamed Glenfruin, 1962 reverted to Astyanax, 1972 scrapped. | 7,654 |
| Glenfruin (3) | 1954 | ex- Dolius (3), 1970 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Glenfruin, 1972 reverted to Dolius, Blue Funnel Line, 1972 sold to Macao renamed Hungmien. | 7,960 |
| Glengarry (1) | 1883 | 1904 sold to Japan renamed Koto Maru. | 3,034 |
| Glengarry (2) | 1920 | 1939 renamed Glenstrae (3), 1949 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Dolius (2) | 9,640 |
| Glengarry (3) | 1940 | 1940 seized by Germans at Copenhagen renamed Meersburg, 1942 converted to minelayer renamed Hansa, 1945 recovered by Britain renamed Empire Humber, 1946 returned to Glen Line reverted to Glengarry, 1970 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Dardanus (6), 1971 reverted to Glengarry for voyage to breakers. | 9,311 |
| Glengyle (1) | 1870 | 1881 sold to Alvena SS Co., Glasgow renamed Alvena. | 1,614 |
| Glengyle (2) | 1886 | 1904 sold to Japan renamed Myoshino Maru. | 3,455 |
| Glengyle (3) | 1914 | 1916 torpedoed and sunk off Malta by German submarine. | 9,395 |
| Glengyle (4) | 1915 | ex- Bostonian, 1916 transferred from F. Leyland & Co renamed Glengyle, 1923 sold to Pacific Steam Nav.Co renamed Lautaro. | 6,240 |
| Glengyle (5) | 1939 | requisitioned as HMS Glengyle, 1948 returned to Glen Line, 1970 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Deucalion (5), 1971 scrapped. | 9,919 |
| Gleniffer (1) | 1877 | 1882 sold to France. | 2,165 |
| Gleniffer (2) | 1915 | 1947 scrapped. | 9,429 |
| Gleniffer (3) | 1943 | ex- Samarkand, 1947 purchased by Blue Funnel Line renamed Talthybius (2), 1954 transferred to Glen Line renamed Gleniffer, 1958 sold to Liberia renamed Dove. | 7,291 |
| Gleniffer (4) | 1913 | ex- Lycaon (1), 1951 transferred from China Mutual S.N.Co renamed Gleniffer, 1952 scrapped. | 7,552 |
| Glenlochy (1) | 1896 | 1919 sold to Greece renamed Olympia. | 4,696 |
| Glenlochy (2) | 1931 | ex- Ajax (3), 1957 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Glenlochy, 1958 returned to Blue Funnel Line renamed Sarpedon, 1962 scrapped. | 7,797 |
| Glenlochy (3) | 1957 | ex- Antenor (4), 1970 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Glenlochy, 1972 reverted to Blue Funnel Line renamed Dymas (2), 1973 sold to Macao renamed Kaiyun. | 7,965 |
| Glenlogan (1) | 1896 | ex- Denton Grange, 1901 purchased from Houlder Bros, renamed Glenlogan, 1916 torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean near Stromboli. | 5,723 |
| Glenlogan (2) | 1943 | ex- Samoa, 1947 purchased by China Mutual S.N.Co, renamed Eurymedon (3), 1952 transferred to Glen Line renamed Glenlogan, 1957 reverted to Eurymedon, China Mutual S.N.Co, 1958 sold to Greece renamed Angelos. | 7,314 |
| Glenluce | 1919 | 1936 sold to P. Wigham Richardson, Newcastle renamed Ionopolis. | 6,755 |
| Glenlyon (1) | 1872 | 1892 sold to France renamed Versingetorix. | 2,118 |
| Glenlyon (2) | 1962 | 1978 sold to Singapore renamed Emerald Express. | 11,918 |
| Glenogle (1) | 1882 | 1904 sold to Seang, Taik & Co, Rangoon. | 3,749 |
| Glenogle (2) | 1916 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic by German submarine. | 7,682 |
| Glenogle (3) | 1920 | 1949 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Deucalion (4). | 9,513 |
| Glenogle (4) | 1962 | 1978 sold to Hong Kong renamed Harvest. | 11,918 |
| Glenorchy (1) | 1871 | ex- Quang-Se, 1876 purchased from William Houston Ltd, London renamed Glenorchy, 1898 sold to Italy renamed Pina. | 2,788 |
| Glenorchy (2) | 1939 | 1942 torpedoed and sunk off Tunisia in Malta convoy. | 8,982 |
| Glenorchy (3) | 1941 | completed as Priam (4) for Blue Funnel Line, 1948 transferred to Glen Line renamed Glenorchy, 1970 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Phemius (4), 1971 scrapped. | 9,975 |
| Glenroy (1) | 1871 | 1890 sold to G. Tweedy & Co., London renamed Gonchar. | 2,198 |
| Glenroy (2) | 1901 | 1915 wrecked near Singapore. | 4,901 |
| Glenroy (3) | 1938 | 1966 scrapped. | 9,809 |
| Glenroy (4) | 1955 | ex- Demodocus (2), 1970 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Glenroy, 1972 reverted to Demodocus Blue Funnel Line, 1973 sold to Macao renamed Hungsia. | 7,968 |
| Glensanda | 1918 | ex-War Courage*, 1919 purchased from the Shipping Controller renamed Glensanda, 1928 sold to Meldrum & Swinson, London renamed Essex Lance. | 6,625 |
| Glenshane | 1918 | ex- War Dream*, 1919 purchased from the Shipping Controller renamed Glenshane, 1932 sold to H. Makita, Japan. | 6,498 |
| Glenshiel (1) | 1887 | 1904 sold to Japan renamed Kotohira Maru. | 3,455 |
| Glenshiel (2) | 1924 | 1942 torpedoed and sunk in Indian Ocean by Japanese submarine. | 9,415 |
| Glenshiel (3) | 1943 | ex- Samnesse, 1947 purchased by China Mutual S.N.Co renamed Eumaeus (3), 1952 transferred to Glen Line renamed Glenshiel, 1957 reverted to China Mutual S.N.Co renamed Euryades (3), 1961 sold to Hong Kong renamed Marine Bounty. | 7,308 |
| Glenshiel (4) | 1946 | ex- Stentor (4), 1958 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Glenshiel, 1963 reverted to Stentor, China Mutual S.N.Co, 1975 renamed Tento for voyage to scrapyard. | 10,203 |
| Glenspey | 1918 | ex- War Music*, 1919 purchased from the Shipping Controller renamed Glenspey, 1920 sold to the King Line Ltd renamed King Bleddyn. | 6,498 |
| Glenstrae (1) | 1905 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk near Bishops Rock. | 4,718 |
| Glenstrae (2) | 1918 | ex- War Climax*, 1919 purchased from the Shipping Controller renamed Glenstrae, 1920 sold to Union-Castle Mail SS Co renamed Banbury Castle. | 6,340 |
| Glentara | 1919 | 1928 sold to Elder Dempster & Co renamed Milverton. | 6,754 |
| Glenturret | 1896 | 1918 stranded near Nantes, total loss. | 4,696 |
| Monmouthshire (1) | 1943 | ex- Telemachus (4), 1957 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Monmouthshire, 1963 returned to Blue Funnel Line renamed Glaucus, 1964 chartered to China Nav.Co renamed Nanchang, 1968 scrapped. | 8,265 |
| Pembrokeshire (1) | 1943 | ex- Samsette, 1947 purchased by China Mutual S.N.Co, renamed Euryplus, 1950 transferred to Glen Line renamed Pembrokeshire, 1957 reverted to Euryplus, China Mutual S.N.Co, 1960 sold to Hong Kong renamed Kota Bahru. | 7,292 |
| Pembrokeshire (2) | 1967 | 1972 transferred to Blue Funnel Line renamed Phrontis (2), 1982 sold to Gulf Shipping Lines, London renamed Gulf Osprey. | 12,299 |
| Radnorshire (1) | 1923 | ex- Tantalus, 1936 transferred from Blue Funnel Line renamed Radnorshire, 1939 transferred to Blue Funnel Line reverted to Tantalus. 1941 bombed and sunk by Japanese at Manila. | 7,777 |
| Radnorshire (2) | 1948 | completed as Achilles (4) for Blue Funnel Line, 1949 transferred to Glen Line renamed Radnorshire, 1962 transferred to Blue Funnel renamed Asphalion (2), 1966 transferred to Dutch flag renamed Polyphemus, 1972 reverted to Blue Funnel Asphalion, 1975 sold to Gulf Ltd, London renamed Gulf Anchor. | 7,632 |
| Radnorshire (3) | 1967 | 1973 transferred to China Mutual S.N.Co renamed Perseus (4), 1978 sold to China Nav.Co. renamed Kwangsi. | 12,094 |