Moller Line

[Simon Lewis]

This is or was a large shipping line.HQ in London, also offices in other parts of UK, China, Hong Kong.
Have not seen it listed here.Why?
Surely there was much Merchant Navy involvment?
I know the origins, and many of the Ships.Anyone, members or guests, know if there is a full written history of this Line?

[Simon Lewis]

I know about Maersk.This is another completely different line.Origins in Sweden with base in the UK for many many years.Family business, originally, with vrey well known racing interests.
Based in Hong Kong after change in China.Any idea?

[Simon Lewis]

Mollers was British from 1890s to at least the 1960s.I am not sure how all the shipping lines were connected, ie how they ran the business.There are aome records in the National Archive in England. the old PRO.
What I would like to know is tales from anyone involved in the British lines, probably sailing from Liverpool.There was some connection to Hull, from what I read.Anyone care to tell?

[Gulliver]

Mollers was British from 1890s to at least the 1960s.I am not sure how all the shipping lines were connected, ie how they ran the business.There are aome records in the National Archive in England. the old PRO.
What I would like to know is tales from anyone involved in the British lines, probably sailing from Liverpool.There was some connection to Hull, from what I read.Anyone care to tell?

Hello Simon. O.K. I must leave this up to our more knowledgeable members.I must admit I had never heard of Mollers. But it did exist,with all kinds of 'connections' including Shanghai and Gibraltar to name but two.It probably does still exist because there's a Freight Agency in Bangkok (Mollers'(Thailand) Ltd. )

Just two links to show what I 'trawled up'. It's hard to believe the Racing connection...is this the link to prove it,perhaps?.One link refers to a vessel which was later renamed Ellizabeth Moller.
http://www.horseracing.freeserve.co....rs_racing.html
http://www.aukevisser.nl/uk/id146.htm

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Simon,
These may or may not be of some interest to you!
Cheers

http://www.scuba.co.uk/Travel/Red_Se...aliemoller.htm

http://www.touregypt.net/VDC/rosalie.htm

http://www.shipwrecksofegypt.com/ima...liemoller.html

Good site above!

Name: Former names: Material: Dimensions:
Rosalie Moller Francis Steel 108.2x ?x ? m.

Brt \ Nrt: Built: Homeport: Cargo: Coal
3963 \ Glasgow ( UK) 1910 Home Port Liverpool ( UK )

[Gulliver]

I don't think Simon will mind me posting some details from his message to me,as it may jog someone's memory about what seems to be quite a large 'empire'.


"The Mollers business was big.The docks in Shangahai were valued at a million pounds in the early 1950s, between 30 and 90 million in todays money.That is only part of what was lost in China.The business was founded in China, 1850s.I do know much more and not much from the people on the ships.You are probably right in that they had asian crews.
They had a marine insurance, engineering, shipbuilding and repair business.
There are bits of info all over the net.As far as I am aware nobody has put all the parts together to show the whole story.
Mollers UK Ltd, Rood Lane, Fenchurch St, London, now where British Land is.
The Hansard details from 1966 are very very interesting.They seem to show that the Mollers interests from Hong Kong were fighting to get what they could whilst Blythe was collapsing.
Let me know if you want more details"


Probably it didn't need to 'shout' about it's operations,like most British and other National companies did. I'm pretty sure in my time at sea that I heard some 'old China hands' mention it.
Simon is looking for any seafarers tales or memories about Mollers for his research.

So,over to anybody?.......

Gulliver

[Simon Lewis]

Seems ok to me.I trust there will be some response soon.

[Gulliver]

Hi Simon. there are a few threads on the Ships Nostalgia site:
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?p=281364

As you know there is a wealth of 'general' info about Mollers on the web.Some different examples concerning the co.here:
http://www.pwsts.org.uk/daveedge.htm
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuil...p.asp?id=16175
http://www.china.org.cn/travel/trave...t_17804418.htm

Regards Davey

[Daibach]

Hi Simon,
I joined the Red Anchor Line, which was owned by Chris Moller, in 1968 and automatically transferred to Mollers when Chris placed his fleet with the main Moller group, managed by Eric Moller, about 1974. The fleet, owned and managed, dwindled rapidly in the late 1970's and the last ships were sold in 1981.
There is a history of Mollers, and a full fleet list, in "Sold East" by H. W. Dick and S. A. Kentwell published by the Nautical Association of Australia in 1991 ISBN 0 9599079 4 7.
Regards,
Dave Edge.

[Ron Mortimer]

Hi Simon
I served my apprenticeship with Mollers from 1953 - 1957 most of my time was spent on the Greystoke Castle it was an ex Woolworth carrier called the ' Pouncer' there was also a sister ship 'Muncaster Castle' both ships were chartered bt Shaw Saville for 5 years being called 'Gallic' and 'Bardic' other ships in Mollers were 'Blyth Trader' 'Blyth Navigator' 'Blyth Explorer' and another one I was on 'Burmuda Trader' this a heavy lift ship (200 ton derricks at three hatches) originally called 'Empire Viceroy' I also remenber that Mollers owned the 'Hong Kong and Whampoa' dry dock (on the kowloon side) hope this is of some use to you. Ron Mortimer