WesWorld

.... to be filled ....

The chinese merchant fleet consists 1938 of round about 1828 ships with a summary of 2,816,121 tons [~1,200,000 GRT].

Toko Line:
The "Toko Line" is a chinese passenger and freight line with daily sailings along China's coast. Sometimes referred to in English as "Chinese Coastal Express". It was founded in 1910 with headquarter in Amoy.

Meanwhile a fleet of 30 ships ensures that each of the now 20 ports is visited twice daily; once by northbound and once by southbound ships.

The ships of the 'Toko Line' operate on a fixed schedule. Every day at the same time a ship runs out of Dairen (Dalian) in direction of Zhenzhu (South China) and reaches 27 days later the starting port. The daily arriving of the ships at all ports of call on the route,is a fixed point in the life of the inhabitants. Not only goods and people on the ships reach the most remote villages, messages and information are also quickly passed on . In the very small ports of the route, the ships also fulfill a more social function. During the short stop, the inhabitants of the places go on board to drink coffee in the cafeteria, share information and to provide themselves with current newspapers. These so-called "coffees" then immediately leave the ship before the ship is leaving the harbour again.


Funnel Color:
White "T" on a light blue funnel;


General Informations:
The Toko Line has at present 30 vessels with a complete tonnage of round about 50000 BRTs.

China Trans-Pacific SS Co.
Formed in 1812, this was one of the chinese shipping company which operate services between the Far East and America. Focused on freight and other goods, the passenger transport capabilities of the China Trans-Pacific Steamship Company was very low. But due to the time, the passenger transportation comes more and more important. So two Liners (Oriental Jade, Oriental Pearl) were laid down in 1940 and put into service on the China - America Route. And the route network was expanded to ports in middle and south america.


Funnel Color:
Three red stripes in a laying red rhombus on a white funnel.


General Informations:
The China-Trans-Pacific Steamship Company has at present 103 ocean going vessels with a complete tonnage of 259118 tons.

Formosian Shipping Limited:
In 1893 the Formosian Shipping Ltd. was founded in Taipeh and traded mainly between Formosa and China with managed ships. The company commenced shipowning in 1899 but by 1910 it was in financial difficulties.
After the Great War, the company specialised on Shanghai - Taipeh - Pacific coast of North America routes. But the financial difficulties weren't solved, so the bankruptcy could not be stopped.


Funnel Color:
Black with three white stripes


General Informations:
After the liquidation of the line, several ships were taken over by the Imperial Chinese Navy and converted to auxiliary vessels.

Oriental Steamship Company:

The Oriental Steamship Company was founded in 1936 by the chinese shipowner Wei Jiafu. The shipping company has tankers and tramp vessels, some of which are chartered. Furthermore, it operates regular passenger services to Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, Thailand and Bharat.


Funnel Color:
Blue Funnel with white hand-held fan


General Informations:
The Oriental Steamship Company has at present 15 ocean going vessels with a complete tonnage of 135820 tons.

China Merchants Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (CMSN):

The story of the CMSN is marked by ups and downs. It all begun in 1915 when the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. decided to withdraw its ships from the Oriental service. A group of Chinese businessmen in San Francisco decided to fill this gap and organized the China Merchants Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. and a ship, the CHINA was taken over from another american shipping line.

The future looked bright and the CMSN was looking for a second ship, she was christened NANKING and came in service in 1918. Also a third vessel the steamer NILE was purchased in 1919 from the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.

The China Merchants proved to be very popular with the traveling public, especially with the Chinese. After the Great War there was a growing competition on the Pacific Route and the China Merchants Steam Navigation Co. was looking for fresh capital in China and Hong Kong. So soon some more ships were purchased.

The CMSN is still focused on the liner business, but also more and more freighters and tankers are part of this line.


Funnel Color:
black with red logo on white ground


General Informations:
The China Merchants Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. has at present 11 ocean going vessels with a complete tonnage of 80574 tons.

Far Eastern Line:
The Far Eastern Line was founded 1816 to offer paddle steamer services on the Yangtze River. After the first years of success the route network was extended. In the 1880s and 1890s the FEL expanded its fleet and the ports of call so that by the end of 19th century it consisted of thirty-nine ships calling at ports along the Yangtze, down the South China Coast, in the Philippines, South East Asia, Australia, Japan, Russia and the North China Coast.

Today FEL is a flourishing shipping line which is managing liner service from China to Australia and employing a mix of owned and chartered vessels.


Funnel Color:
Black wide stripe on the top of a red funnel


General Informations:
The FEL has at present 41 oceangoing vessels with a complete tonnage of 133079 tons.

Sino Shipping Company (SSC):
Founded in 1876 in Beijing, initially to trade up the Yangtze River from their Shanghai base with passengers and cargo. Chinese coastal trade started shortly after and in 1883 a regular service to Japan was initiated.
At present the SSC is one of the leading coastal shipping lines in China, with routes along the chinese coast. Also ferry lines to Formosa are part of this shipping line.


Funnel Color:
Black with three white and two red stripes


General Informations:
The SSC has at present 28 oceangoing vessels with a complete tonnage of 128877 tons.


Routes:
River services
Shanghai - Lower Yangtze - Hankow
Shanghai - Shasi Ichang / Ichang - Wanhsein - Chungking
Shanghai - Changsha - Tungting Lake Ports

Coastal Services
Shanghai - north to Newchwang / Dairen
Shanghai - Ningpo
Shanghai - south to Hong Kong and Canton
Shanghai - south to Haihow and Haiphong
Hong Kong - Macao - Canton.

Blue water Services
Melbourne, Sydney, Philippine Islands, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Yokohama, Shanghai

Tjianjin Shipping:
It was founded in 1878 as a shipowning company and was trading locally. Overseas services began in 1890 with a route between Shanghai and Osaka and in 1908 the first chinese emigrants were carried to Brazil. A Hong Kong to Tacoma service commenced in 1909 and a San Francisco route was opened in 1915. In 1916 South America services were started and a service to New York in 1920. There were numerous other routes, including a round-the-world service.
At present the Tjianjin Shipping is one of the greatest chinese shipping lines.

Funnel Color:
blue funnel with three red stripes on white background

General Informations:
The Tjianjin Shipping has at present 56 ocean going vessels with a complete tonnage of 267183 tons.


Overviw of some important routes:
China - NW Europe
Shanghai - Puget Sound
Hong Kong - Yokohama - Los Angeles - New York
China - South America (round the world service)
China - Australia
China - Java - Bombay - Calcutta - Persia
China - East Africa
China - Philippines - Saigon - Bangkok
China - Japan - Hong Kong
China - South Africa
internal chinese routes.