The Fleets
Formed in 1897 after the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894 and as a partner to Furness Withy & Co. Sailings were mainly to Canada particularly for the cattle trade, but Galveston and New Orleans sailings were also made for the cotton trade to the Lancashire mills. In 1901 a joint service with R. W. Leyland & Co to Philadelphia was inaugurated and in 1906 a service to the River Plate commenced, but these were not a success and regular sailings ceased.
Services to the Great Lakes started in 1952 and in 1970 Manchester Lines became a subsidiary of Furness Withy & Co. The parent company was taken over by C. Y. Tung, Hong Kong in 1980 and Manchester Liners ceased trading as a seperate entity in 1988. Although mainly a cargo company, many ships had accommodation for a limited number of passengers.
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.
Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belwoods Park | 1943 | Managed for Ministry of War Transport, 1946 returned to Canadian Gov't. | 7,149 |
| Frontier | 1972 | 1972 chartered from Condron's, Manchester, 1975 purchased by Manchester.Liners, 1979 sold to Greece renamed Box Trader. | 3,621 |
| Manchester Brigade | 1918 | 1940 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic; loss of 58 lives. | 6,021 |
| Manchester Challenge (1) | 1968 | 1979 sold to Panama renamed Ocean Container. | 11,898 |
| Manchester Challenge (2) | 1970 | ex- Dart America, 1981 renamed Manchester Challenge, 1988 Manchester Liners ceased trading, transferred to Orient Overseas Container Line renamed Oocl Challenge. | 31,030 |
| Manchester Citizen (1) | 1912 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic; loss of 1 life. | 4,251 |
| Manchester Citizen (2) | 1925 | 1943 torpedoed and sunk off West Africa; loss of 15 lives. | 5,328 |
| Manchester City (1) | 1898 | from 1908 chartered to Houston Line, 1929 scrapped. | 7,698 |
| Manchester City (2) | 1937 | 1939-1945 requisitioned as minelayer, 1964 scrapped Faslane. | 5,600 |
| Manchester City (3) | 1964 | 1971 sold to South Korea renamed Korean Winner. | 8,734 |
| Manchester City (4) | 1978 | ex- City of Lisbon, 1985 chartered from J. Luhrs, Hamburg renamed Manchester City, 1986 off charter, renamed Polaris. | 3,984 |
| Manchester Civilian | 1913 | 1933 sold to S. G. Razis, Argostoli renamed Tasis. | 4,706 |
| Manchester Clipper | 1980 | ex- Clipper, 1980 chartered from H. Winter, Hamburg renamed Manchester Clipper, 1991 reverted to Clipper. | 1,595 |
| Manchester Commerce (1) | 1899 | 1914 mined and sunk off Ireland; loss of 14 lives. | 5,363 |
| Manchester Commerce (2) | 1906 | ex- King, 1916 purchased from State S.S.Co., Liverpool renamed Manchester Commerce, 1917 torpedoed and sunk by U-Boat in Straits of Gibraltar. | 4,144 |
| Manchester Commerce (3) | 1925 | 1952 sold to Camel Lines, London renamed Corbita. | 5,328 |
| Manchester Commerce (4) | 1963 | 1971 sold to Hong Kong owners renamed Ber Sea. | 8,724 |
| Manchester Concept | see Manchester Progress (2) | ||
| Manchester Concorde | 1969 | 1982 sold to Panama renamed Char Lian. | 11,898 |
| Manchester Corporation | 1899 | 1929 scrapped Barrow. | 5,400 |
| Manchester Courage | 1968 | 1979 sold to Liberia renamed Pacific Container. | 11,898 |
| Manchester Crown | 1979 | ex- Crown Prince, 1983 transferred from Prince Line renamed Manchester Crown, 1985 sold to Liberia renamed Thai Amber. | 1,599 |
| Manchester Crusade | 1971 | 1982 sold to Panama renamed Char Che. | 11,898 |
| Manchester Division | 1918 | 1953 scrapped Briton Ferry. | 6,024 |
| Manchester Eagle | 1972 | ex- Atlantic Eagle, 1981 chartered from Senator, Singapore renamed Manchester Eagle, 1982 off charter renamed Eagle. | 2,732 |
| Manchester Engineer (1) | 1902 | 1916 torpedoed and sunk in St.George's Channel. | 4,302 |
| Manchester Engineer (2) | 1905 | ex- Nation, 1917 purchased from Treasury S.S.Co., Liverpool, renamed Manchester Engineer, 1917 torpedoed and sunk off Flamborough Head. | 4,415 |
| Manchester Engineer (3) | 1952 | ex- Cairngowan, 1965 chartered from Cairn Line renamed Manchester Engineer, 1966 reverted to Cairngowan. | 8,275 |
| Manchester Enterprise | 1889 | ex- Queensmore 1898 purchased from Elder Dempster & Co renamed Manchester Enterprise, 1899 sank in North Atlantic. | 3,878 |
| Manchester Exchange | 1901 | 1925 sold to Finland-America Line renamed Equator. | 4,091 |
| Manchester Explorer | 1952 | Great Lakes service, 1963 sold to Crosbie Shipping Co., St.John's, NF renamed C. A. Crosbie. | 1,805 |
| Manchester Exporter (1) | 1918 | ex- Rexmore, 1929 transferred from Johnston Line renamed Manchester Exporter, 1947 sold to Wallem & Co, Hong Kong renamed Nicaragua. | 5,277 |
| Manchester Exporter (2) | 1952 | ex- Cairndhu, 1965 transferred from Cairn Line renamed Manchester Exporter, 1970 sold to Greece renamed Gemini Exporter. | 8,275 |
| Manchester Faith (1) | 1959 | Great Lakes service, 1965 chartered to Cairn Line renamed Cairnesk, 1966 reverted to Manchester Faith, 1969 sold to Panama renamed Ilkon Tak. | 4,459 |
| Manchester Faith (2) | 1974 | ex- Francop, 1976 chartered from Bartels, Hamburg renamed Manchester Faith, 1977 reverted to Francop, 1978 renamed Manchester Faith, 1983 reverted to Francop. | 1,421 |
| Manchester Faith (3) | 1971 | ex- Nahost Kurier, 1985 chartered from H. Bastian, Panama renamed Manchester Faith, 1985 off charter renamed Pinguin. | 1,599 |
| Manchester Falcon | 1975 | ex- Lappland, 1975 chartered from C. Speck, Rendsberg renamed Manchester Falcon, 1976 reverted to owner and original name. | 998 |
| Manchester Fame | 1959 | Great Lakes service, 1965 chartered to Cairn Line renamed Cairnglen, 1966 reverted to Manchester Fame, 1970 sold to Liberia renamed Ilkon Niki. | 4,459 |
| Manchester Freighter | 1958 | ex- Cairnforth, 1965 chartered from Cairn Line renamed Manchester Freighter, 1969 chartered to Royal Mail Lines renamed Lombardy. | 8,105 |
| Manchester Fulmar (1) | 1974 | ex- Fulmar, 1975 chartered from Maritima Astur, Gijon renamed Manchester Fulmar, 1977 reverted to Fulmar. | 2,524 |
| Manchester Fulmar (2) | 1979 | ex- City of Ipswich, 1981 chartered from Ellerman Lines renamed Manchester Fulmar, 1983 reverted to original name. | 1,559 |
| Manchester Hero | 1916 | 1937 sold to South American Saint Line renamed St. Winifred. | 5,779 |
| Manchester Importer | 1899 | 1927 sold to N. Negroponte, Syra renamed Alexandra. | 4,028 |
| Manchester Inventor (1) | 1902 | 1917 captured and sunk by U-Boat off Fastnet. | 4,247 |
| Manchester Inventor (2) | 1907 | ex- Celtic King, 1917 purchased from Celtic Shipping Co., Liverpool renamed Manchester Inventor, 1917 captured and sunk by U-Boat. | 4,102 |
| Manchester Mariner (1) | 1904 | 1925 sold to Finland-America Line renamed Mercator. | 4,106 |
| Manchester Mariner (2) | 1955 | 1968 sold to Greece renamed Ira. | 7,850 |
| Manchester Market | 1901 | 1903 wrecked near Tuskar Rock. | 4,091 |
| Manchester Merchant (1) | 1900 | 1903 cotton cargo caught fire, burnt out in Dingle Bay, Ireland, scrapped. | 5,657 |
| Manchester Merchant (2) | 1904 | 1934 scrapped Italy. | 4,152 |
| Manchester Merchant (3) | 1940 | 1943 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic; loss of 36 lives. | 7,264 |
| Manchester Merchant (4) | 1951 | 1967 sold to Liberia renamed Clio. | 7,651 |
| Manchester Mercurio | 1971 | chartered from Naviera Santa Catalina, Gijon. 1980 returned to Spain renamed Folita. | 1,997 |
| Manchester Merit | 1970 | Mediterranean service, 1972 renamed Fortuna, 1975 sold to Liberia renamed Kathleen. | 3,414 |
| Manchester Miller (1) | 1903 | 1905 chartered to Watts, Watts & Co., renamed Fulham, 1907 returned and reverted to Manchester Miller, 1917 torpedoed and sunk off Fastnet; loss of 8 lives. | 4,234 |
| Manchester Miller (2) | 1959 | 1968 caught fire and sank at New York. 1970 rebuilt as Manchester Quest, 1976 scrapped Taiwan. | 9,297 |
| Manchester Pioneer | 1952 | Great Lakes service, 1963 sold to Greece renamed Cyprian Med. | 1,805 |
| Manchester Port (1) | 1899 | 1908 chartered to Houston Line, 1911 sold to Houston Line renamed Hydaspes. | 5,658 |
| Manchester Port (2) | 1904 | 1925 sold to H. Vogemann, Hamburg renamed Vogesen. | 4,093 |
| Manchester Port (3) | 1935 | 1965 scrapped Bilbao. | 5,469 |
| Manchester Port (4) | 1966 | 1971 sold to Yugoslavia renamed Biokovo. | 8,168 |
| Manchester Prince | 1981 | ex- Njord, 1985 chartered from F. Beutelrock, Limassol renamed Manchester Prince, 1989 reverted to Njord. | 1,599 |
| Manchester Producer | 1916 | ex- Start Point, 1921 transferred from Furness Withy & Co., renamed Manchester Producer, 1939 purchased by Board of Trade renamed Botwey. | 5,106 |
| Manchester Progress (1) | 1938 | 1966 scrapped Split. | 5,620 |
| Manchester Progress (2) | 1967 | 1972 converted to container ship renamed Manchester Concept, 1980 sold to Hong Kong renamed Cherry Bunga. | 8,176 |
| Manchester Prospector | 1948 | ex-Vigor, 1953 purchased from S. Ugelstad, Oslo, renamed Manchester Prospector, Great Lakes service. 1960 sold to Greece renamed Georgios. | 1,400 |
| Manchester Quest | see Manchester Miller (2) | ||
| Manchester Rapido | 1971 | chartered from Equimar Maritima, Bilbao. 1977 returned to Spain renamed Esther Del Mar. | 1,997 |
| Manchester Regiment (1) | 1922 | 1939 sank after colliding with Oropesa in convoy off Cape Race. | 7,930 |
| Manchester Regiment (2) | 1946 | 1969 sold to Panama renamed Azure Coast II. | 7,638 |
| Manchester Renown (1) | 1964 | 1971 sold to South Korea renamed Korean Challenger. | 8,742 |
| Manchester Renown (2) | 1974 | 1974 chartered to Australian Asian Express Line renamed Asian Renown, 1978 reverted to Manchester Renown, 1982 sold to Indonesia renamed Ratih. | 12,577 |
| Manchester Reward | 1974 | 1974 chartered to Australian Asian Express Line renamed Asian Reward, 1978 reverted to Manchester Reward, 1979 chartered to Seatrain Lines renamed Seatrain Norfolk, then TFL Reward, 1980 reverted to Manchester Reward. 1982 sold to Indonesia renamed R.R.Ratna. | 12,577 |
| Manchester Shipper (1) | 1900 | 1930 scrapped Briton Ferry. | 4,038 |
| Manchester Shipper (2) | 1943 | 1969 scrapped Trieste. | 7,636 |
| Manchester Shipper (3) | 1973 | ex- Peter Theilgaard, 1974 chartered from Petersen, Copenhagen renamed Manchester Shipper, 1975 returned to owners and original name. | 500 |
| Manchester Spinner (1) | 1903 | 1918 torpedoed and sunk near Malta. | 4,227 |
| Manchester Spinner (2) | 1918 | ex- Grampian Range, 1924 transferred from Furness Withy & Co. (Neptune) renamed Manchester Spinner, 1944 scuttled off Normandy as Mulberry Harbour blockship. | 4,767 |
| Manchester Spinner (3) | 1952 | 1968 sold to Greece renamed Estia. | 7,815 |
| Manchester Trader (1) | 1890 | ex- Parkmore 1898 purchased from Elder Dempster, renamed Manchester Trader, 1913 sold to Norway renamed Ferdinand Melsom. | 3,318 |
| Manchester Trader (2) | 1902 | ex- Auchenblae, 1916 purchased from Auchen S.S.Co., Glasgow renamed Manchester Trader, 1917 captured by U-Boat in Mediterranean. | 3,938 |
| Manchester Trader (3) | 1941 | 1963 scrapped Split. | 5,671 |
| Manchester Trader (4) | 1955 | ex- Western Prince, 1963 chartered from Prince Line renamed Manchester Trader, 1969 reverted to original name. | 7,917 |
| Manchester Trader (5) | 1952 | ex- Werratal, 1968 chartered from J. A. Reinecke, Hamburg renamed Manchester Trader, 1973 to Panama renamed Union Kings. | 2,479 |
| Manchester Trader (6) | 1972 | ex- Jeanette Helleskov, 1973 chartered from Petersen, Copenhagen renamed Manchester Trader, 1975 returned to owners and original name. | 500 |
| Manchester Trader (7) | 1976 | ex- Kaethe Johanna, 1978 chartered from Hamburg owners renamed Manchester Trader, 1978 reverted to original name. | 1,596 |
| Manchester Trader (8) | 1977 | ex- Lamara, 1984 chartered from Meteor, Singapore renamed Manchester Trader, 1984 off charter renamed Lamara. | 1,999 |
| Manchester Trader (9) | 1980 | ex- Karyatein, 1989 chartered from Karyatein, Hamburg, renamed Manchester Trader, 1991 renamed Altona. | 3,348 |
| Manchester Trader (10) | 1980 | ex- Kormoran, 1985 chartered from Hamburg owners renamed Manchester Trader, 1989 off charter renamed Fair Cosmos. | 4,146 |
| Manchester Vanguard (1) | 1956 | Great Lakes service, 1963 sold to General Steam Navigation Co., London renamed Sheldrake. | 1,662 |
| Manchester Vanguard (2) | 1977 | 1977 chartered to Seatrain Lines renamed Seatrain Trenton, 1979 reverted to Manchester Vanguard, 1979 chartered to Taiwan renamed Keelung, 1980 reverted to Manchester Vanguard, 1980 renamed Oriental Vanguard, 1981 reverted to Manchester Vanguard, 1982 transferred to Golden Cross Line renamed Ibn Majid. | 16,544 |
| Manchester Venture (1) | 1956 | Great Lakes service, 1961 sold to General Steam Navigation Co., London renamed Philomel. | 1,662 |
| Manchester Venture (2) | 1977 | 1977 chartered to Seatrain Lines renamed Seatrain Bennington, 1978 reverted to Manchester Venture, 1979 chartered to Golden Star Line renamed Marseille, 1980 reverted to Manchester Venture, 1980 transferred to Kalten Shipping Co., Hong Kong renamed Oriental Venture. | 16,544 |
| Manchester Vigour | 1973 | 1975 chartered to Cargo Lines, renamed Cargo Vigour, 1976 reverted to Manchester Vigour, 1980 sold to France renamed Ville d'Orient. | 5,310 |
| Manchester Zeal | 1973 | 1975 chartered to Cargo Lines renamed Cargo Zeal, 1976 reverted to Manchester Zeal, 1981 sold to Singapore renamed Sea Hawk. | 5,310 |
| Riverdale Park | 1943 | Managed for Ministry of War Transport, 1946 returned to Canadian Gov't . | 7,149 |
| Westmount Park | 1943 | Managed for Ministry of War Transport, 1946 returned to Canadian Gov't. | 7,149 |