ELDER DEMPSTER LINES ELDERDEMPSTER.ORG

Elder Dempster Lines was one of the UK’s largest shipping companies, and during its 150 year history it operated more than 500 ships.

Based in the historic port of Liverpool it was the major shipping line to serve West Africa. As well as its cargo liners Elder Dempster Lines operated three passenger liners on a scheduled service to Ghana and Nigeria.

It employed many people, from its seagoing staff to those personnel in its UK offices and Elder Dempster Agencies branches in West Africa. The company had its own Cadet Department to train the deck, engineer, purser, and catering officers of the future. There was a cadet training ship, and Elder Dempster Lines was the first British shipping company to open a purpose-built cadet residential establishment.

This website tells something of the story of EDs in the 1960s when the company was at its postwar peak, and is in many ways a unique social and historical archive of just one shipping company half a century ago. Its comprehensive photographic record - only possible through the generosity of many former Elder Dempster seagoing staff - grows by the month, and at the last count there are now 1,450 photographs to view, together with 900 other images including badges, flags, menus, posters, cargo papers, and Elder Dempster ephemera ranging from beer mats to brochures.

The pages which form ElderDempster.org provide a snapshot - literally - of the ships, ports, and crews in those heady days when the world was young, and when so many followed a tradition and went to sea.

They show a time and a way of life which have gone forever.

Elder Dempster Lines
Homeward Bound A Liverpool - West Africa Maritime Heritage
an introduction	company history
photographs	ships of the fleet
ranks and uniforms	cadet training
funnels and flags	ephemera
pursers	liverpool shipping
model ships	railways
other fleets	little ships
Merchant Navy	links
nautical glossary	a personal view
ex EDs?	what’s new?
Elder Dempster Pensioners Association
Quick Search?
family history ?	contract or employment ?
website last updated 28 April 2024
THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to the development of this website with images, information, and encouragement
Ex EDs / Old Coaster / Merchant Navy ? mike the purser apologies for this being an image rather than a link researching your family history ? seeking a contract or employment ?

 

this independent website is not managed or endorsed by Elder Dempster Lines or its successors
all text and photographs © Mike Ingham except where indicated
EDL House Flag © Elder Dempster Lines - Merchant Navy Badge © Crown Copyright
header image of Fourah Bay © courtesy Rhiw.com
animated house flags created by merch.no-ip.biz
please see the small print section for the legal bit
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