The Fleets
Founded in 1869 to operate a cargo and passenger steamship line from Liverpool to Northern Brazil. In 1882 a joint Red Cross - Booth Line service started from Manaos and Para to New York and an Amazon feeder service to Para commenced in 1887. In 1897 the Red Cross Iquitos Steamship Co was founded to operate services 2,000 miles up the River Amazon to Iquitos, Peru. Robert Singlehurst retired in 1901 and the company amalgamated with Booth Line.
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
- 1869-1871 Liverpool - Maranham - Para.
- 1871-1901 Liverpool - Lisbon - Para - Manaos (1897 extended to Iquitos)
- 1882-1901 Manaos - Para - New York (1897 extended to Iquitos)
Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazonense (1) | 1879 | 1881 wrecked off St. David's Head, Wales. | 1,865 |
| Amazonense (2) | 1869 | ex- Hindostan, 1881 purchased from Apcar & Co, London renamed Amazonense, 1896 sold to Tandonnet, Bordeaux renamed Saint Augustin. | 1,692 |
| Amazonense (3) | 1899 | 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 2,828 |
| Cametense | 1891 | ex- Carlo Poerio, 1893 purchased from Italo Britannica renamed Cametense, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 2,155 |
| Carrie Dingle | 1873 | 3-masted barque, 1885 transferred from Booth Line, 1889 sunk in collision in English Channel. | 194 |
| Carvoeira | 1869 | 3-masted barque, ex- Locksley Hall, 1887 purchased from Lowden, Edgar & Co, Liverpool renamed Carvoeira, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 1,356 |
| Cearense (1) | 1869 | 1899 sold to Flores, Palermo renamed Picnic. | 1,381 |
| Cearense (2) | 1891 | ex- West Indian, 1900 purchased from West India & Pacific SS Co. (Leyland & Co) renamed Cearense, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 2,769 |
| Fluminense | 1891 | ex- IL Principe di Napoli, 1893 purchased from Italo Britannica renamed Fluminense, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 2,154 |
| Grangense (1) | 1882 | Amazon feeder service, 1890 sold to Brazil renamed Augusto Leal. | 420 |
| Grangense (2) | 1891 | ex- Ruggiero Settimo, 1893 purchased from Italo Britannica renamed Grangense, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 2,162 |
| Javary | 1898 | ex- Harlech, 1899 purchased from J & C. Harrison renamed Javary, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 1,199 |
| Lisbonense | 1871 | 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 1,657 |
| Madeirense | 1891 | ex- Dubbeldam, 1895 purchased from Holland America Line renamed Madeirense, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 2,760 |
| Manauense | 1874 | ex- Bowen, 1884 purchased from Eastern & Australian SS Co. renamed Manauense, 1898 sold to T. Edwards, Liverpool. | 1,672 |
| Mara | 1883 | 1898 purchased from F. S. Holland & Co., London, Amazon feeder service, 1901 sold to Brazil renamed Amazonas. | 1,448 |
| Maranhense (1) | 1869 | 1880 sold to T. R. Oswald, Liverpool. | 1,354 |
| Maranhense (2) | 1880 | ex- Blodwen, 1882 purchased from Arvon Shipping Co., Liverpool renamed Maranhense, 1895 sold to Tandonnet, Bordeaux renamed Saint Antoine. | 1,480 |
| Maranhense (3) | 1890 | ex- Gulf of Lions, 1899 purchased from Greenock SS Co. (Gulf Line) renamed Maranhense, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 2,767 |
| Napo | 1897 | ex- Harmony, 1898 purchased from J & C. Harrison, London renamed Napo, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 1,118 |
| Obidense | 1891 | 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 2,380 |
| Paraense (1) | 1869 | 1870 wrecked at Ceara, Brazil. | 1,300 |
| Paraense (2) | 1871 | 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 1,697 |
| Portuense | 1875 | ex- Glenapp, 1883 purchased from Merchant SS Co., London renamed Portuense, 1898 sank 250 miles off Bahamas. | 1,470 |
| Santarense | 1891 | ex- Didam, 1895 purchased from Holland America Line renamed Santarense, 1896 sunk in collision with barque DUNDONALD. | 2,751 |
| Sobralense | 1884 | 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 1,982 |
| Theresina | 1876 | 1880 purchased from Dodd & Co, Liverpool, 1898 sold to Palgrave, Murphy & Co., Dublin renamed City of Brussels. | 1,109 |
| Theresinense | 1880 | Amazon feeder service, 1891 sold to Brazilian owners. | 300 |
| Ucayali | 1898 | ex- Paris, 1898 purchased from Strick Line renamed Ucayali, 1901 transferred to Booth Line. | 1.052 |