The Fleets
The Union Line, Hamburg was formed in 1886 by an amalgamation between Edward Carr and Rob. M. Sloman jnr. to operate a service between Hamburg and New York In 1888 Hapag bought Carr's half interest in the company and arranged with Sloman to operate a joint service. In 1889 a service commenced between Hamburg and Philadelphia but by 1894 this route became the sole responsibility of Hapag. Routes between Hamburg and Brazil and the Far East started in 1897 and 1899 respectively.
When Rob. M. Sloman died in 1900 the company was divided beteween surviving partners. The first part, known as the Sloman - Union Line ran the Hamburg - New York, Brazil and Far East services. The remaining steamers were taken over by the second company Rob. M. Sloman jnr. In 1903 the Sloman - Union Line was disposed of to Dampschiffs Rhederei Union which chartered four ships to Hapag who purchased the ships in 1907, together with the remainder of the shares in the Union Line. The New York - South America service was shared between Hapag and Hamburg Sud. The Union Line remained a Hapag subsidiary until 1914.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albano | 1886 | ex- Iran, 1895 purchased from E. Bates, Liverpool renamed Albano, 1903 chartered to Hapag, 1907 purchased by Hapag. | 3,747 |
| Amalfi | 1881 | 1886 taken over with Sloman Line, 1911 sold to Sweden renamed Ada, 1917 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine. | 2,345 |
| Barcelona | 1896 | 5,456 tons, ex- Arabia, 1899 transferred from Hapag renamed Barcelona, 1903 chartered to Hapag, 1907 purchased by Hapag. | 5,456 |
| Bellagio | 1891 | ex- Venetia, 1900 transferred from Hapag renamed Bellagio, 1905 sold to Deutsche Levante Line renamed Paros. | 2,822 |
| Capua | 1889 | 1909 went missing on voyage Hamburg - Genoa. | 2,032 |
| Catania (1) | 1881 | 1886 taken over with Sloman Line, 1897 sold to Funch, Edye & Co., NY and converted to tanker, 1920 wrecked New Orleans. | 2,216 |
| Catania (2) | 1888 | ex- Echuca, 1898 purchased from Blue Anchor Line, London renamed Catania, 1905 sold to Furness Withy & Co., 1914 scrapped. | 2,861 |
| Marsala | 1882 | 1886 taken over with Sloman Line, 1911 sold to Italy, 1913 sunk in collision. | 2,397 |
| Milano | 1889 | ex- Italia, 1900 transferred from Hapag renamed Milano, 1903 sold to Deutsche Levante Line renamed Tenedos. | 3,564 |
| Moravia | 1882 | ex- Bengore Head (2), 1883 purchased by Hapag from Ulster SS Co. renamed Moravia, 1898 transferred to Union Line, 1899 wrecked Sable Island. | 3,739 |
| Pallanza | 1891 | ex- Chancellor, 1901 purchased from Harrison Line, Liverpool renamed Pallanza, 1903 chartered to Hapag, 1907 purchased by Hapag. | 4,606 |
| Pisa | 1897 | 1903 chartered to Hapag, 1907 purchased by Hapag. | 4,446 |
| Pompeji | 1881 | ex- Bengore Head (1), 1881 purchased by Hapag from Ulster SS Co. renamed Bohemia, 1898 transferred to Union Line renamed Pompeji, 1900 sold to Italy renamed Pompei, 1905 scrapped. | 3,410 |
| Procida | 1871 | ex- Clan Macleod, 1883 purchased from Clan Line renamed Procida, 1901 owned by British Admiralty, 1903 renamed Nubian, 1913 scrapped. | 2,265 |
| Salerno | 1889 | 1905 went missing on voyage Bari - Algiers. | 2,026 |
| Savona | 1871 | ex- Bertha, 1887 purchased from British owners renamed Savona, 1890 sank on voyage New York - Hamburg. | 2,145 |
| Sorrento | 1881 | 1886 taken over with Sloman Line, 1902 wrecked near Cape Finisterre, Spain. | 2,364 |
| Taormina | 1884 | 1886 taken over with Sloman Line, 1911 sold to Italy renamed Taormin, 1917 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine. | 2,422 |