Moor Line Ltd (shipping company : 1897-1968 : Scotland)

Moor Line Ltd was first created when the South Shields Steam Shipping Co Ltd changed its name in April 1897 . The South Shields Steam Shipping Co Ltd had been formed in 1889 by Walter Runciman, who was Managing Director and Secretary of the company, with Mr John Elliott as Chairman. In 1892 the company offices had moved from South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England to Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. Walter Runciman and his son, also named Walter, who carried on business as partners in Walter Runciman & Co, were appointed Managing Directors of Moor Line Ltd at the time of the change of name, and the next year, 1898, on the death of John Elliott, Walter Runciman became Chairman and held that position until his death in 1937 . In1902 Moor Line Ltd took over the Novocastrian Shipping Co and in 1905 it took over the North Moor Steamships Co. After heavy losses during World War I, the ships were sold to the Western Counties Shipping Co Ltd in 1919, and Moor Line Ltd went into voluntary liquidation in 1920. In November 1920 Moor Line Ltd was re-formed as a public company quoted on the Newcastle Stock Exchange. Like its predecessor it quickly built up a large fleet of tramp ships for world-wide trading. Severe losses of ships were encountered during World War II but a steady programme of replacement was undertaken after 1945, and in 1962 the first large bulk carrier was ordered. In July 1965 Moor Line Ltd purchased the Anchor Line, based in Glasgow, Scotland, from the United Molasses Co Ltd, believing that the association of the two companies offered a more secure financial future. In 1966 Moor Line Ltd purchased the managing company Walter Runciman & Co Ltd and decided to move their administrative offices from Newcastle-on-Tyne, England to Glasgow, Scotland and have the management of the two companies, Moor Line Ltd and Anchor Line Ltd , under one roof. In 1968 , Moor Line Ltd changed its name to Walter Runciman & Co Ltd and transferred the ownership of the entire fleet to Anchor Line Ship Management Ltd, a newly created company. Runciman Shipping Ltd was formed for the day-to-day management of all the vessels. In that year, Anchor Line Ltd gave up the Glasgow ‰?? USA trade, but became agents for Cunard Brocklebank Ltd, handling all Atlantic Container Line traffic from Scotland and providing ancillary shore services for containers. The base was at Braeside, Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The Runciman Group expanded again in 1969 with the acquisition of the Currie Line, of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland and in 1972 Anchor Line Ltd acquired George Gibson & Co Ltd , also of Leith. In 1976 , the Anchor Line Company Ltd structure was recast. It retained ownership of the vessels and had responsibility for shipping policy. There were five operating Divisions: Anchor Line Eastern Services Ltd (concerned with Eastern commercial activities); Anchor Line Ship Management Ltd (handling the bulk carriers and any managed vessels); Currie Line Ltd (concerned with European services, mainly with charted tonnage, warehousing and road haulage); George Gibson & Co (concerned with the gas tanker fleet); Runciman Shipping Ltd (dealing with the administration). Anchor Line Eastern Services Ltd, Anchor Line Ship Management Ltd and George Gibson & Co were all active in 2005.

From the guide to the Records of Moor Line Ltd, shipping company, Scotland, 1847-1975, (Glasgow University Archives Service)