Strick Line
1887 Frank Clarke Strick (1849-1943), a Swansea businessman with a background in coal exporting and shipbroking, began carrying coal to the Mediterranean and the Gulf, importing iron ore. He founded the London and Paris Steamship Company Ltd to raise capital and the Anglo-Algerian Steamship Company Ltd to operate the ship. It began a pattern of cargo trading which lasted for many years and carried coal from the UK to West Italian ports, and iron ore from Benisaf in North Africa to the United Kingdom or the Continent.
1892 Strick entered the Gulf trade through a new company, the Anglo-Arabian and Persian Steamship Company Ltd. A specialist concern, the Dwina Ltd, operated a lightering service to enable ships to pass over the bars in the Shatt-el-Arab waterway up to Basra.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, Strick had 15 ships sailing under his flag, primarily in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf trades.
From 1903 the Anglo-Arabian and Persian company operated jointly with Bucknall Steamship Line (later owned by Ellerman Lines) carrying oil prospectors' equipment, stores and personnel to the Gulf.
1906 The Strick and Ellerman Lines worked in conjunction with the Southern Mahratta Railway Company, who had developed the port at Marmagoa[1]
1913 the Anglo-Arabian and Persian Steamship Company, now solely involved in the Gulf trade, was renamed Strick Line Ltd.
By 1913 Strick had various companies:
- La Commerciale Steam Navigation Co Ltd
- Anglo-Arabian and Persian Steamship Co Ltd
- Anglo-Algerian Steam Ship Co (1896) Ltd
These were merged to form Strick Line Ltd.
WWI Losses were heavy and the fleet emerged from the war sorely depleted.
Postwar: The high cost of replacing ships and Strick's advanced age compelled him to sell his fleet and business to Lord Inchcape's company, Gray, Dawes and Co in 1919.
1923 Name changed to Strick Line (1923) Ltd. Sold by Gray, Dawes and Co to P&O subsidiary Hain Steamship Co
1925 Strick and Ellerman Lines were operating services to the Persian Gulf[2]
By 1928, Mr Strick wished to re-acquire an interest in the Persian Gulf trade and in the company which bore his name. He negotiated with P&O the purchase of a 49 percent interest in Strick Line (1923) Ltd using the name of his London & Paris Steamship Company.
1946 the company name reverted to the name Strick Line Ltd.
1960 Strick Line acquired Frank C. Strick and Co Ltd
1972 Taken over by P & O and absorbed the Strick fleet and operations into the P&O General Cargo Division.