The Fleets
Founded at St. John's NF in the 1820s by Benjamin Bowring who was greatly involved in the sealing trade, by 1823 he owned a fleet of small sailing vessels to trade across the Atlantic. By the 1840s, his son, Charles Tricks Bowring was the functional head of the company which had expanded to Liverpool. The 1860s saw rapid growth in the company with routes opened to India and New Zealand, Australia and the West Coast of America.
From 1880 the company built up a fleet of ocean going steamships and a new company, English & American Shipping Co. Ltd was formed in 1888 to operate passenger and cargo services, mostly between Liverpool, St. John's and New York. They also operated the Red Cross Line (New York, Newfoundland & Halifax SS Co.) from the early 1880s, which ran a passenger and freight service along the Atlantic Seaboard to New York and later expanded into the cruising business out of New York.
Heavy ship losses were encountered in WWI and the Red Cross Line was sold and their ships transferred to Furness, Withy & Co's Bermuda & West Indies SS Co. in 1929. The English & American Shipping Co. was liquidated in 1919 and a new company "The Bowring Steamship Co." was formed. The passenger trade was dropped about this time and Bowrings concentrated on the oil tanker, iron ore and freight business.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adra (1) | 1895 | 1912 sold to W. Kunstmann, Germany renamed Svionia. | 2,796 |
| Adra (2) | 1917 | 1933 sold to Greece renamed Ia. | 4,860 |
| Alba | 1901 | 30th January 1905 wrecked Zandveert on passage Newport News to Amsterdam. | 3,733 |
| Anthea | 1924 | 8th December 1940 sunk in collision off Cape Race. | 5,186 |
| Avalon | 1888 | 1899 sold to Spain renamed Bat. | 2,083 |
| Beacon Light | 1890 | 1899 purchased from R. Stewart & Co., Liverpool, 19th February 1918 torpedoed and sunk off Butt of Lewis. | 2,763 |
| Bear Creek | 1890 | 25th December 1892 abandoned in North Atlantic at 45.25N 34.22W on passage Amsterdam to Philadelphia. | 2,411 |
| Benedick (1) | 1888 | ex- Arbib Brothers , 1897 purchased from Arbib Bros., London renamed Benedick. 1912 sold to France-British SS Co., London. | 2,717 |
| Benedick (2) | 1928 | 1953 sold to Liberia renamed Nonna Maro. | 6,955 |
| Benisaf | 1889 | 28th December 1894 wrecked Cape Bonavista, Newfoundland. | 1,934 |
| Benjamin Bowring | 1952 | ex- Martin Karlsen, 1979 purchased from Karlsen Shipping, Halifax N.S renamed Benjamin Bowring, 1983 sold to Halba Shipping, London renamed Arctic Gael. | 1,239 |
| Bona | 1890 | 1906 sold to Greece renamed Lula. | 2,427 |
| Brika | 1908 | 13th March 1917 torpedoed and sunk near Coningbeg Lightship. | 3,549 |
| Camillo (1) | 1908 | ex- Joyo Maru , 1909 purchased from Japan renamed Camillo, 1934 scrapped. | 5,135 |
| Camillo (2) | see Regent Lion. | ||
| Cape Breton | 1940 | 1962 scrapped. | 6,044 |
| Capulet (1) | 1884 | 23rd June1896 wrecked St. Shotts, Newfoundland on passage Halifax, NS to Liverpool. | 2,246 |
| Capulet (2) | 1930 | 28th April 1941 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic at 60.10N 17.00W. | 8,190 |
| Capulet (3) | see Regent Tiger. | ||
| Capulet (4) | 1971 | bulk carrier, 1984 sold renamed Yargara. | 16,530 |
| Catalone | 1901 | 1915 sold to J. Constant, London then re-sold to Plissen S.N. Co., Cardiff renamed Thermidor. | 3,788 |
| Cordelia (1) | 1912 | 1930 sold to Italy renamed Poseidone. | 6,533 |
| Cordelia (2) | 1932 | 3rd February 1943 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic at 56.37N 22.58W. | 8,190 |
| Cymbeline (1) | 1902 | 4th September 1915 torpedoed and sunk 30 miles from Fastness. | 4,505 |
| Cymbeline (2) | 1927 | 2nd September 1940 sunk by German surface raider Widder in Atlantic at 28.00N 35.00W. | 6,317 |
| Desdemona (1) | 1917 | 1917 taken over by U.S. Shipping Board renamed Chestnut Hill. | 4,936 |
| Desdemona (2) | 1978 | 1984 sold renamed Boka. | 17,940 |
| Dominion | 1902 | 1916 renamed Gafsa, 28.3.1917 torpedoed and sunk off Kinsale Head, Ireland. | 4,021 |
| El Aleto | 1927 | 1953 scrapped. | 7,203 |
| El Ciervo | 1923 | ex- Tricentrol , 1926 purchased from Trinidad Central Oilfields Ltd, London renamed El Ciervo, 1950 sold to Stevinson, Hardy & Co., London renamed Bratton. | 5,841 |
| El Gallo | 1941 | ex- Empire Emerald, 1946 purchased from Ministry of War Transport renamed El Gallo, 1959 scrapped. | 8,032 |
| El Grillo | 1922 | 10th February 1944 sunk by air attack in Seidis Fjord, Iceland. | 7,259 |
| El Lobo (1) | 1908 | 1931 sold to Italy renamed Taigete. | 4,800 |
| El Lobo (2) | 1959 | 1976 scrapped. | 12,078 |
| El Mirlo | 1930 | 1958 scrapped. | 8,088 |
| El Oso | 1921 | 11th January 1940 mined and sunk off River Mersey. | 7,267 |
| El Toro | 1913 | 2nd March 1917 wrecked on rocks, Co. Kerry. | 5,958 |
| El Zorro | 1914 | 28th December 1915 torpedoed and sunk off Kinsale, Ireland. | 5,889 |
| Elba | 1889 | 1889 sold to H. Bucknall & Sons, London. | 2,293 |
| Elsinore | 1913 | 11th September 1914 captured by German cruiser Leipsig and sunk by gunfire. | 6,542 |
| Florizel | 1909 | 24th February 1918 wrecked near Cape Race on passage St. John's Nfld. to Halifax NS; loss of 93 lives. | 3,081 |
| Forth Bridge | 1967 | 1978 sold renamed Yauza. | 28,467 |
| Gafsa (1) | 1906 | 16th June 1916 sunk by submarine shellfire 80 miles SW of Genoa. | 3,922 |
| Gafsa (2) | see Dominion. | ||
| Gonzalo | see Regent Caribou. | ||
| Guy Colin | 1888 | 1898 sold to Norway renamed Aquila. | 2,234 |
| Hermione (1) | 1906 | 1907 sold to Japan renamed Soyo Maru. | 4,519 |
| Hermione (2) | 1908 | 1933 scrapped. | 5,200 |
| Huelva (1) | 1894 | 1913 sold to Alexander & Mair, Glasgow, renamed Myrtlegrove. | 2,642 |
| Huelva (2) | 1915 | 23 July 1917 torpedoed and sunk 270 miles SW from Fastnet. | 4,867 |
| Inca | 1897 | ex- Craigneuk , 1898 purchased from Craig Line SS Co., Leith, renamed Inca. 1916 sold to Watts, Watts & Co., London renamed Sandhurst. | 3,593 |
| Juliet | 1881 | 6th October 1886 wrecked on Gingerbread Shoal on passage Cardiff to New Orleans. | 2,090 |
| Justin | 1891 | 1892 purchased from A. Halland & Co., London, 1898 sold to U.S. Navy. | 2,206 |
| Kinsman | 1901 | 1905 sold to Anglo-American Oil Co., London renamed Winnebago. | 4,534 |
| Lompoc | 1914 | 1934 scrapped | 7,270 |
| London Bridge | 1967 | sold renamed M Istanbul K. | 28,467 |
| Lorca | 1910 | 29th October 1916 left Norfolk, Va. for Calais and went missing. | 4,129 |
| Lucifer | 1899 | 16th April 1907 abandoned in North Atlantic on passage New York to Dublin. | 3,823 |
| Merida | 1918 | 30th December 1918 wrecked off Le Touquet. | 5,951 |
| Mira | 1901 | 1903 sold to F. W. Beaumont, U.S.A, renamed Beaumont. | 3,779 |
| Miranda | 1884 | 23rd August 1894 wrecked at 61.00N 59.00W off Greenland. | 1,158 |
| Mokta | 1892 | 1912 sold to Spain renamed Butron. | 2,434 |
| Mora | 1899 | 8th September 1915 sunk by submarine shellfire 68 miles W x S from Belle Ile. | 3,047 |
| Muelva | 1915 | 23rd July 1917 torpedoed and sunk 270 miles SW from Fastnet. | 4,867 |
| Murcia (1) | 1895 | 1913 sold to W. Schuchmann, Germany renamed Hispania. | 2,644 |
| Murcia (2) | 1915 | 2nd November 1918 torpedoed and sunk 12 miles North from Port Said. | 4,871 |
| Mystic | 1901 | 1915 sold to Greece renamed Kanaris. | 3,793 |
| Nerissa | 1926 | 1928 sold to Bermuda & West Indies SS Co., Hamilton. | 5,583 |
| Noya | 1912 | 30th August 1917 torpedoed and sunk off the Lizard. | 4,282 |
| Oberon | 1907 | 1917 sold to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co., renamed Argonauta. | 5,142 |
| Orlando | 1960 | 1966 sold to Norway renamed Stolt Falcon. | 14,154 |
| Othello | 1905 | 1915 sold to Whitehall S.N. Co., Cardiff, renamed Whitecourt. | 3,680 |
| Pola | 1898 | 18th May 1917 torpedoed and sunk 280 miles WNW from Ushant. | 3,053 |
| Portia | 1884 | Jul.1899 wrecked on Big Fish Shoal on voyage New York to Halifax. | 1,156 |
| Prospero (1) | see Regent Leopard. | ||
| Prospero (2) | see Regent Springbok. | ||
| Regent Caribou | 1951 | 1966 renamed Gonzalo, 1968 scrapped. | 12,072 |
| Regent Jaguar | 1941 | ex- Empire Jet , 1946 purchased from Ministry of War Transport, renamed Regent Jaguar, 1959 scrapped. | 8,134 |
| Regent Leopard | 1949 | 1960 renamed Prospero, 1960 sold to France renamed Pontigny. | 8,439 |
| Regent Lion (1) | 1937 | 17th February 1945 torpedoed and sunk SW of Gibraltar. | 9,551 |
| Regent Lion (2) | 1945 | ex- Empire Trinidad , 1943 purchased from Ministry of War Transport, renamed Regent Lion, 1955 renamed Camillo, 1960 scrapped. | 8,217 |
| Regent Panther | 1937 | 1959 scrapped. | 9,556 |
| Regent Springbok | 1951 | 1962 renamed Prospero, 1969 scrapped. | 12,117 |
| Regent Tiger (1) | 1938 | 8th September 1939 torpedoed and sunk west of Ireland. | 10,176 |
| Regent Tiger (2) | 1946 | 1954 renamed Capulet, 1966 scrapped. | 9,960 |
| Roda | 1897 | 13th February 1908 wrecked on Long Island on passage Huelva to New York. | 2,513 |
| Romeo | 1883 | 21st September 1887 ran aground and capsized in River Seine on passage New Orleans to Rouen. | 2,279 |
| Ronda | 1920 | 1937 sold to Yugoslavia renamed Ivan Topic. | 4,943 |
| Rosalind (1) | 1890 | ex- Admiral , 1902 purchased from German East Africa Line, Hamburg renamed Rosalind. 1912 sold to St. Lawrence Shipping Co., Montreal, renamed City of Sydney. | 2,568 |
| Rosalind (2) | 1913 | 6th April 1917 torpedoed and sunk 180 miles WNW from Fastnet. | 6,535 |
| Rosalind (3) | 1911 | ex- Lady Gwendolen , 1919 purchased from Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co., renamed Rosalind. 1928 sold to Bermuda & West Indies SS Co., Hamilton. | 2,163 |
| Silvia (1) | 1885 | ex- Baghdadi , 1892 purchased from Persian Gulf SS Co., London, renamed Silvia. 14.3.1908 wrecked Vineyard Sound on passage New York to St. John's Nfld. | 1,794 |
| Silvia (2) | 1913 | 23rd August 1915 sunk by submarine shellfire 47 miles West from Fastnet. | 5,268 |
| Silvia (3) | 1909 | ex- Orel , 1922 purchased from Russian Volunteer Fleet renamed Silvia, 1928 sold to Bermuda & West Indies SS Co., Hamilton. | 3,589 |
| Snowflake | 1893 | 1912 sold to Lane & MacAndrew Ltd, London. | 2,710 |
| Stephano (1) | 1911 | 8th October 1916 torpedoed and sunk off Nantucket Lightship. | 3,449 |
| Stephano (2) | 1965 | 1978 sold to Greece renamed Maria. | 16,166 |
| Sydney Bridge | 1970 | 1978 sold renamed Amorgos. | 35,868 |
| Tafna (1) | 1887 | Nov. 1896 stranded and abandoned as total loss. 1897 sold to Rowland & Marwood SS Co., Whitby, renamed Cornucopia. | 2,231 |
| Tafna (2) | 1911 | 1927 sold to Wyn Shipping Co., London renamed Wynacre. | 4,393 |
| Titania | 1880 | 24th January 1882 left New York for the Tyne and disappeared. | 1,961 |
| Trinculo (1) | 1908 | 1933 scrapped. | 5,203 |
| Trinculo (2) | 1957 | 1972 sold to W. Ritscher, Germany | 11,206 |
| Trinculo (3) | 1978 | 1984 sold renamed Bijela. | 17,835 |
| Urla | 1924 | 28th January 1941 torpedoed and sunk in N. Atlantic at 54.54N 19.00W. | 5,148 |
| Vera | 1892 | ex- Ashdown , 1896 purchased from Asdown SS Co., London renamed Vera. 1911 sold to Greece renamed Ioannis Th. Sifneo. | 2,899 |
| Zafra | 1905 | 8th April 1916 captured and sunk by U.boat near Oran. | 3,578 |
Sailing Vessels & Minor Steamers
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamantine | 1877 | iron barquentine, 1882 purchased, 1893 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 204 |
| Algerine | 1880 | built as a gunboat for the Royal Navy, 1892 sold to A. Kinnear, London, 1895 sold to Bowring, St John's NF, 1905 rebuilt to 505 g.t., 1912 crushed by ice at Baffin Island. | 505 |
| Aurora | 1876 | wood screw barque, 1894 purchased, no further details. | 580 |
| Britomart | 1866 | iron barque, 1882 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 600 |
| Carpesian | wood sailing vessel, 1896 purchased, no further details. | 270 | |
| Cordelia | 1867 | iron barque, 1870 purchased, 1899 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 598 |
| Desdemona | 1875 | iron ship, no further details. | 1,564 |
| Eagle | 1871 | wooden steamer, 1877 purchased, 1893 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 506 |
| Falcon | 1872 | steamer, ex- Groenland , 1882 purchased, renamed Falcon, 1895 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 458 |
| Glenorchy | 1882 | steamer, 1893 purchased, no further details | 2,229 |
| Hamlet | sailing vessel, 1870 purchased, 1881 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 1,264 | |
| Hermione | 1854 | iron ship, 1878 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 383 |
| Jessica | 1863 | iron barque, 1870 purchased, 1887 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 546 |
| Juliet | 1869 | iron ship, 1879 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 1,243 |
| Kite | 1873 | wooden steamer, ex- Norwegen , 1882 purchased renamed Kite, no further details. | 280 |
| May Cory | 1875 | wooden barquentine, 1881 purchased from J. James, Plymouth, 1899 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 178 |
| Oberon | 1864 | iron ship, 1885 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 1,184 |
| Ophelia | 1863 | iron ship, 1887 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 1,184 |
| Othello | 1875 | iron ship, no further details. | 1,514 |
| Plover | 1877 | steamer, 1882 purchased, 1887 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 473 |
| Romeo | 1869 | iron barque, 1882 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 641 |
| Terra Nova | 1898 | this was the Antarctic exploration vessel. | 450 |
| Viola | 1868 | iron barque, 1886 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 595 |
| William | wood sailing vessel, 1897 purchased, no further details. | 198 | |
| Zoroaster | sailing vessel, 1870 purchased, 1877 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 1,264 |
Managed Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aase Maersk | 1930 | owned by A. P. Moller, Copenhagen, managed 1940-1945, 1945 returned to owners. | 6,184 |
| Empire Emerald | see El Gallo, managed 1941-1946. | ||
| Empire Jet | see Regent Jaguar, managed 1943-1946. | ||
| Empire Oil | 1941 | managed 1941-1942, 10.9.1942 torpedoed and sunk in North Atlantic. | 8,029 |
| Fort Gibralter | 1942 | managed 1942-1946, 1946 returned to U.S. Maritime Commission. | 7,134 |
| Gerfrid | 1913 | ex- German , managed 1919-1920, 1920 sold to St. Just SS Co., Cardiff renamed Royal City. | 5,411 |
| Gneisenau | 1903 | ex-North German Lloyd, managed 1919-1921, 1921 sold to Italy renamed Citta di Genova. | 8,185 |
| Hebe | 1890 | ex- Wm. Eisenach , Germany, managed 1919-1921, 1921 scrapped. | 3,635 |
| Marie Maersk | 1928 | owned by A. P. Moller, Copenhagen, managed 1940-1941, 12th April 1941 sunk by air attack at Piraeus, Greece. | 8,271 |
| Ocean Athlete | 1942 | managed 1942-1943, 1943 sold to Netherlands Government renamed Govert Flinck. | 7,178 |
| Samleyte | 1944 | managed 1944-1947, 1947 returned to U.S. Maritime Commission. | 7,253 |