The Larrinaga Steamship Company Limited – Liverpool’s Spanish Connections

By Geoff Walker

Although considered to be one of the founding Steamship companies in Liverpool,

the Larrinaga Steamship Co. Ltd., never lost its Spanish heritage and Iberian

connections. Tradition has it, that the company House Flag showing three red

clasped hands, stems back to the 3 principal partners in the enterprise, shaking

hands on their joint decision to build their first steamship. The flag remained in

use for well over 100 years, right up to the time of the company’s demise 1n 1974.

In the early months of 1861, a young Basque Master Mariner arrived in Liverpool. His name was Ramón

de Larrinaga, aged 28, from the small Vizcayan fishing port of Mundaka, on the Urdaibai estuary. In the

summer of 1862, Ramón dissolved a short-lived sail making partnership he had established and by

August of the same year, he had joined his brother-in-law, also a sea captain and fellow Mundakan, José

Bautista de Longa, in a new venture.

The business association between Ramón and José would become one of the most distinguished Anglo-

Spanish shipping enterprises of the late nineteenth century: Olano, Larrinaga & Company. Founded

together with their fellow Basque, a ship’s chandler, José Antonio de Olano, the company began life as a

commission agency, merchants’ office, and ship chandlery. Within a year of the company’s

incorporation, in September 1863, the partners took delivery of their first sailing ship, the 48 ton,

Belfast-built clipper Olano, captained initially by Longa and later by Ramón’s brother Florentino de

Larrinaga. It would soon be joined by the Felix in 1864, Trinidad in 1866, and Cosmopolita during 1869.

These ships, sailing under the Spanish flag, traversed the sea routes between Liverpool and Manila (with

occasional voyages to Havana), carrying cargoes of Gum Mastic (a resin from the Mastic tree), Hemp,

Coffee, Sapan wood (used for dyeing purposes), Tobacco, and other high revenue commodities.

The company’s fortunes were transformed with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, which

dramatically reduced sailing times to Manila. Beginning with the Buena Ventura and Emiliano in 1871,

the company invested in a fleet of large, modern steamships, crewed largely by Basque, and Filipino

sailors. The Buena Ventura, captained by Florentino de Larrinaga, made its maiden passage under the

Suez Canal pilotage of the canal’s architect Ferdinand de Lesseps himself, and over the following two

years, she and her six sister ships transited the canal on more than 80 occasions – more than any other

Spanish company. In the meantime, their sailing vessels were transferred to the Cuba and Gulf of

Mexico routes

Within a decade, the Larrinaga, Olano, and Longa families were the focal of a thriving Hispanic

community in Liverpool, made up mainly with those from the Basque Country, as well as the Philippines,

and above all from the fishing ports lining the Urdaibai estuary close to the Larrinaga’s hometown of

Mundaka. Many of these immigrants, worked for the Olano, Larrinaga & Co., both on their ships as

sailors and in a variety of other related activities ashore.

April 1871, the first steamer entered service from the Sunderland yard of Oswald & Company as Buena

Ventura of 1,763 Grt, was powered by a compound two Cylinder steam engine, manufactured by the

ship builders, giving a service speed of 11 knots. She became the first steamer under the Spanish flag to

pass through the Suez Canal, but this is disputed in some quarters with claims that the first Spanish

vessel to transit the new Suez Canal was in fact the Ebro. Buena Ventura also became famous for her

capture in April 1898 by a warship of an American battle squadron as the first hostile act in the Spanish –

American War of 1898.

Larrinaga lost the Manila mail contract in 1880 and in 1883 Olana sold his share in the company to the

Larrinaga family who renamed the company Larrinaga & Co. Routes were re-organized, and a New York

- Boston - Puerto Rico service was introduced. In 1898 a new company, Miguel de Larrinaga Steamship

Co. was registered in Liverpool and services to Montevideo and the River Plate commenced in 1900. The

two companies merged in 1931 to form the Larrinaga Steamship Co. Ltd., and continued to be based in

Liverpool.

(Unknown)

The 5,943grt Anselma de Larrinaga, built in 1914 by Short Bros. at Pallion, Sunderland, as the Moorish

Prince for Prince Line. She became Anselma de Larrinaga in 1927. After being laid up for four years. She

was sent for demolition at Port Glasgow in April 1934.

(Unknown)

Niceto De Larrinaga - a cargo steamship of 5,591 tons, built in 1916 by Russell & Co., Glagow. Whilst on

a voyage from Lagos - Freetown - London with a cargo of 3866 tons palm kernels, 2000 tons manganese

ore, 2482 tons groundnuts and 622 tons general cargo, she was torpedoed by submarine U-103 on 22

September 1941. U-103 fired four bow torpedoes at convoy SL-87, southwest of the Canary Islands, then

turned around and fired two stern torpedoes. The Niceto de Larrinaga was hit by two torpedoes and

sunk. One passenger, a Distressed British Seaman (DBS) from the Niceto de Larrinaga was lost. The

Master, 41 crew members, five gunners and three passengers also DBS, were rescued, but one crew

member and one gunner died of injuries.

The Maria De Larrinaga built 1929 by Robert Duncan & Co. Ltd, Glasgow with a 3 Cylinder tripple

inverted expansion steam engine producing 2200 IHP and a service speed of 10.5 knots. Tradgically, she

was lost with all hands in 1939. The following extract from the BOT enquiry, summarizes the tradgedy:-

“The voyage of the Maria de Larrinaga after leaving Houston appears to have been uneventful for some

15 days and the first indication that all was not well with the vessel was an S.O.S. in the following terms

sent out at 17.10 G.M.T. on the 8th February and picked up by the steamship "Clintonia" and other

vessels:- "´Maria de Larrinaga´ 42° 30´ N., 46° W. requires immediate assistance-hatch No. 1 stove in."

This message was followed at 17.38 G.M.T. by a further S.O.S. from the distressed vessel giving a new

position of 42° 15´ N. and 48° 50´ W. "Please proceed to my assistance-urgent-sinking". This message

was subsequently repeated to other vessels. At 20.28 G.M.T. the "Maria de Larrinaga" wirelessed to all

stations as follows:- "No. 1 hatch coaming gone others intact to present sea mountainous". Soon after

this time the "Clintonia´s" log-book records that it was blowing a hurricane from the north-westward

with mountainous seas. The "Maria de Larrinaga" thereafter continued to send out distress signals until

00.09 G.M.T. on the 9th February after which no further signal was heard from her. On the afternoon of

the 9th February numerous pieces of wreckage were sighted by the "Veendam" and the "Aurania"

between latitude 42° 13´ and 42° 27´ N. and longitude 45° 40´ and 45° 48´ West. Upon the facts set out

above, it seems reasonably certain that the "Maria de Larrinaga" foundered with all hands probably

soon after the dispatch of her last wireless message.”

(Unknown)

MV Ramon De Larrinaga of the Larrinaga Steamship Co. Ltd., displaying her fine lines. Built by Wm.

Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Southwick in 1954, she had a GRT of 5818 tons. Fitted with a 6 Cylinder 4 S.C.S.A.

diesel of Harland-B&W design developing 3635 BHP. Sold in 1969 to Greek Cypriot interests and

renamed Marianna and resold again in 1972 becoming Marian.

This vessel was the first of a newbuilding program for the company commencing in 1954, with ships

designed to be competitive, to the established liner companies, being a tween decker fitted with deep

tanks for the carriage of limited quantities of liquid cargoes, as well as a good spread of 10ton SWL

derricks, and one heavy lift rated at a SWL of 25tons. The ship traded worldwide and one of her claims

to fame was to be the first seagoing vessel to berth at Duluth, Lake Superior, after the opening of the St

Lawrence Seaway in 1959.

A wonderful image of the

Ramon De Larrinaga seen

maneuvering at Preston

Docks in 1962.

(Unknown)

She finally met her demise

when under Greek Cypriot

ownership when she

foundered in 1976 off the

Cascais, in approx. 38 42N

9 25W.

The Marian had been on a voyage from Lisbon to Piraeus, when she grounded, off Lisbon. The next day,

Marian was taken in tow, but due to the severity of damage, she started leaking badly and eventually foundered off the Cascais.

(Unknown)

The final ship believed to have been built for the Larrinaga Steamship Company and to bear the name

Ramon De Larrinaga, was the 1972 built SD 14, seen in this image as Jade Bay. Built in 1972 by Austin

and Pickersgill Ltd, at Sunderland she had a Grt of 9181tons, and was fitted with a 5 Cylinder 2 S.C.S.A.

Hawthorn-Sulzer type diesel engine developing 7500 BHP. Her Larrinaga branding was of a short tenure

as she was sold in December the same year, to become Jade Bay, being resold again in 1994. She

grounded heavily during 1994 off Cochin, India, sustaining considerable bottom damage. She was taken

to Alang, for demolition.

Larrinaga Fleet Summary - Steam and Motor ships

Vessel Built Years in Service and Brief History

Anselma de Larrinaga (1) 1898 1915 - 1919 GRT 4,090 tons military transport, 1924 sold to

Soc. Anon. Maritt Liguri, Savona renamed Chiabrera.

Anselma de Larrinaga (2) 1914 ex- Moorish Prince, GRT 5.955 tons 1927 purchased from Prince

Line renamed Anselma de Larrinaga, 1931 laid up, 1934 scrapped.

Asuncion de Larrinaga (1) 1902 1915 - 1919 GRT 4,142 tons military transport, 1929 sold to P.

Kydoniefs, Greece renamed Elengo A. Kydoniefs.

Asuncion de Larrinaga (2) 1944 ex- Sea Triumph, 1948 purchased from Dover Navigation Co.,

Dover renamed Asuncion de Larrinaga, 1951 GRT 7281 tons sold to Lemos & Pateros, London,

registered Panama renamed Katingo.

Buena Ventura 1871 1898 GRT 1,763 tons captured by USS NASHVILLE during

Spanish American war, sold to L. Luckenbach.

Domingo de Larrinaga (1) 1899 1915 - 1917 GRT 4076 tons military transport, 1928 sold to Th.

Liaroutzos, Greece renamed Massaliotis.

Domingo de Larrinaga (2) 1929 GRT 5,358 tons 16th Jul.1940 sunk by German raider PINGUIN in

South Atlantic.

Domingo de Larrinaga (3) 1944 GRT 7,242 tons ex- Stanthorpe, 1949 purchased from J. Billmeir,

London renamed Domingo de Larrinaga, 1955 sold to Cia. Naviera Alvali, Costa rica renamed Vassilis.

Ena de Larrinaga 1925 GRT 5,200 tons 5th Apr.1941 torpedoed and sunk by U.105 in

Atlantic.

Esperanza de Larrinaga 1907 1921 GRT 4,981 tons went missing in Atlantic.

Gloria de Larrinaga 1908 1916 - 1919 GRT 4,649 tons military transport, 1933 scrapped.

Jose de Larrinaga (1) 1913 GRT 5,017 tons 28th Apr.1917 torpedoed and sunk by U.81

while 150 miles WNW from Fastnet, with loss of 12 lives.

Jose de Larrinaga (2) 1920 GRT 5,303 tons ex- Loch Tay, 1927 purchased from A/S

Australia, Tonsberg, Norway renamed Jose de Larrinaga, 7th Sep.1940 torpedoed and sunk by U.47 in

Atlantic with loss of all 40 crew.

Lucille de Larrinaga 1911 GRT 4,825 tons ex- Burmese Prince, 1927 purchased from Prince

Line renamed Lucille de Larrinaga, 1934 scrapped.

Maria de Larrinaga (1) 1898 1915 - 1919 GRT 4,018 tons military transport, 1928 sold to S.

Polemis, Andros renamed Theotokos.

Maria de Larrinaga (2) 1929 GRT 4,988 8th Feb.1939 sank in storm with all hands in North

Atlantic.

Maria de Larrinaga (3) 1944 GRT 7,277 ex- Samadre, 1947 purchased from MOWT renamed

Maria de Larrinaga, 1964 sold to Marseguro Cia Nav., Greece, renamed Meletios.

Mercedes de Larrinaga 1902 1915 - 1918 GRT 4,152 tons military transport, 1928 sold to N.

M. Piangos, Greece renamed Maroussio.

Miguel de Larrinaga (1) 1901 1915-1918 GRT 4,089 tons military transport 3rd Feb.1918

sank in the Atlantic.

Miguel de Larrinaga (2) 1924 GRT 5,231 tons 1950 sold to Leonhardt & Blumberg, Hamburg

renamed Bernd Leonhardt.

Miguel de Larrinaga (3) 1944 GRT 7,235 tons ex- Jersey May, 1950 purchased from Nolisement

SS Co., London renamed Miguel de Larrinaga, 1956 sold to Cia Mare Nostrum, New York, registered

Liberia and renamed Tritonia.

Miguel de Larrinaga (4) 1970 GRT 9,247 tons 1974 sold to Vergocean SS Co., London, 1975

renamed Vergstar.

Minnie de Larrinaga 1914 GRT 5,046 1917 - 1918 military transport, Sep.1940 condemned

after bombing damage in London Docks, loaded with blitz rubble and scuttled as blockship in Dover

harbour.

Niceto de Larrinaga (1) 1912 GRT 5,018 tons 6th Oct.1914 captured in South Atlantic by

German cruiser KARLSRUHE and scuttled.

Niceto de Larrinaga (2) 1916 GRT 5,569 tons 22nd Sep.1941 torpedoed and sunk by U.103 in

Atlantic.

Niceto de Larrinaga (3) 1959 GRT 6,251 tons 1973 sold to Navarino Shipping Co., Cyprus

renamed Aegis Bounty.

Pilar de Larrinaga (1) 1902 GRT 4,136 tons 4th May 1917 torpedoed and sunk by UC.65 off

Tuskar Rock with loss of 20 lives.

Pilar de Larrinaga (2) 1918 GRT 7,352 tons ex- War Nymphe, 1919 purchased from the

Shipping Controller renamed Pilar de Larrinaga, 1949 sold to INSA Soc. di Nav, Italy renamed Delia.

Ramon de Larrinaga (1) 1889 GRT 2,773 1917 sold to Hijos de Jose Sen Cie.

Ramon de Larrinaga (2) 1920 GRT 5,791 1942 sold to Ministry of War Transport, managed by

Larrinaga renamed Empire Mersey, 14th Oct.1942 torpedoed and sunk by U.618 in Atlantic with loss of

16 lives.

Ramon de Larrinaga (3) 1944 GRT 7,293 tons ex- Skipsea, 1948 purchased from Brown

Atkinson & Co. Hull, renamed Ramon de Larrinaga, 1952 sold to Okeanoporos Shipping Corp, Piraeus

renamed Okeanoporos.

Ramon de Larrinaga (4) 1954 GRT 5,818 tons 1969 sold to Elxis Maritime Corp, Piraeus

renamed Marianna.

Ramon de Larrinaga (5) 1972 GRT 9,246 tons 1972 sold to Jade Bay Shipping Co., Piraeus

renamed Jade Bay.

Reina Mercedes 1878 1881 GRT 3,181 tons sold to Marquis de Campo, registered at Manila.

Richard de Larrinaga (1) 1916 GRT 5,569 tons 8th Oct.1917 torpedoed and sunk by U.57 off

Ballycotton Island with loss of 35 lives.

Richard de Larrinaga (2) 1929 GRT 5,358 15th May 1941 bombed by German aircraft off

Tynemouth, beached and broke in two.

Richard de Larrinaga (3) 1955 GRT 5,841 1970 sold to Diamandis Eidiki, Piraeus renamed

Adamandios.

Rupert de Larrinaga (1) 1930 GRT 5,358 tons 14th Jul.1941 torpedoed and sunk by Italian

submarine MOROSINI in Atlantic.

Rupert de Larrinaga (2) 1969 GRT 9,268 tons 1974 sold to Vergocean SS Co., London, 1975

renamed Vergray.

Sylvia de Larrinaga 1925 GRT 5,218 tons 14th Aug.1942 torpedoed and sunk by Italian

submarine REGINALDO GIULIANI in Atlantic.

Telesfora de Larrinaga 1920 GRT 5,780 tons 1949 sold to Oriental SS Co., Hong Kong

renamed Oritrin.

Teodoro de Larrinaga 1899 GRT 3,999 tons 1914 sold to Sale & Co., London renamed Tung

Shan.

Ventura de Larrinaga 1908 GRT 4,648 tons 1908 4,648 tons, 1933 scrapped. 4,648

Victoria de Larrinaga 1909 GRT 4,648 tons 29th Apr.1922 wrecked off north coast of Haiti.

Managed Tonnage

Vessel Built Years in Service and Brief History

Bernilla 1897 GRT 2,535 tons ex- Homeric (Andrew Weir & Co.), 1901

purchased by Bernilla SS Co., managed by Larrinaga, and renamed Bernilla, 1906 sold to Greece

renamed Athina.

Empire Blanda 1919 GRT 5,696 tons ex- Rio Grande, 1940 purchased from Panama

by MOWT renamed Empire Blanda, managed by Larrinaga, 19th Feb.1941 torpedoed and sunk by U.69

in Atlantic with the loss of all 40 crew.

Empire Bruce 1941 GRT 7,400 tons managed for MOWT, 1942 management

transferred to Christian Salvesen, Leith.

Empire Clough 1942 GRT 6,149 tons managed for MOWT, 10th Jun.1942 torpedoed

and sunk on maiden voyage in Atlantic by U.94.

Empire Elk 1920 GRT 4,747 tons ex- Condor, 1940 purchased from Grace Line by

MOWT, managed by Larrinaga, 1942 sold to Norway renamed Norvarg.

Empire Hail 1940 GRT 7,005 tons managed for MOWT, 23rd Feb.1942 torpedoed

and sunk by U.94 in Atlantic with loss of all 49 crew.

Empire Honduras 1945 GRT 7,320 tons managed for MOWT, 1946 chartered to Andrew

Weir & Co., 1948 renamed Lochybank.

Empire Mersey see Ramon de Larrinaga (2)

Empire Symbol 1943 GRT 7,027 managed for MOWT, 1945 sold to Fraissinet,

Marseilles renamed Professeur Emile Lagarde.

Empire Trumpet 1943 GRT 7,059 tons managed for MOWT, 1944 management

transferred to T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool, 1946 renamed Naturalist.

Fort Capot River 1943 GRT 7,128 tons managed for MOWT, 1946 management

transferred to Counties Ship Management, London.

Fort Concord 1942 GRT 7,138 managed for MOWT, 12th May 1943 torpedoed and

sunk by U.403 in Atlantic with loss of 37 lives.

Fort Machault 1943 GRT 7,160 tons managed for MOWT, 1946 sold to Park SS Co.,

Montreal.

Fort Moose 1943 GRT 7,130 managed for MOWT, 1946 chartered to United Africa

Co. (Palm Line)

Fort Walsh 1943 GRT 7,126 tonbs managed for MOWT, 1947 returned to US

Maritime Commission.

Mount Revelstoke Park 1943 GRT 7,144 1946 managed for MOWT, 1947 chartered to

Aviation & Shipping Co., London.

Ocean Courier 1942 GRT 7,178 tons managed for MOWT, 1946 management

transferred to Clan Line, 1948 renamed Clan Macbean.

Ocean Rider 1942 GRT 7,178 managed for MOWT, 1946 transferred to N.

Kyriakides, London.

Ocean Story 1942 GRT 7,037 tons managed for MOWT, 4th May 1942 grounded

off Brier Island, NS, refloated but sank.

Ocean Venture 1941 GRT 7,174 tons managed for MOWT, 8th Feb.1942 torpedoed

and sunk by U.108 in St. Lawrence.

Ocean Voice 1941 GRT 7,174 tons managed for MOWT, 22nd Sep.1942 damaged

by torpedo from U.435 in Russian convoy, torpedoed and sunk by escort destroyer.

As can be seen from the list above, like most British Shipping Companies, they suffered badly during

both WW1 and WW2, with significant losses, and they participated in the management of many vessels,

over 20 in total, during WW2 on behalf of the British Government - Ministry of War Transport (MOWT).

The recovery of the 1950’s and 60s was relatively short lived and unsustainable. due to the rising costs

of fuel, competition from a rapid expansion of the global fleet, and because of second-hand tonnage

that was employed by their owners, mainly placed under FOCs, yielding much lower operating costs,

against which it was difficult to compete, not to mention the universal switch to containerization.

Larrinaga was impacted along with so many other ship owners of the era and had already commenced

to shed his fleet by the early 1970s. This, together with the oil crisis and UK political situation that

prevailed at the time, regarding the shipping industry, signaled the demise of the Larrinaga Steamship

Company leading to its sale in 1974, after 111 years of illustrious service, to a London Greek shipowner,

George Vergottis who renamed his acquisition Vergocean SS Co. and registered the ships in Piraeus,

Greece.

End

References: Larrinaga shipping Company and its associate’s archives, BOT Enquiry findings into the loss of “Maria De Larrinaga”, various online

data available in the Public Domain, from which additional material has been sourced.

Disclaimer: This is a “Not for Profit” document. Unless otherwise specified, images are from various unknown sources on the Public Domain and

used under the Fair Use category for review, commentary, and educational purposes only. Photographs of unknown origin – Attempts have

been made to source copyright holders. Owners of these images should make themselves known by contacting me via this website and I will be

pleased to give due accreditation. No infringement of copyright is intended.