THE CLASSIC CARGO SHIPS OF CLAN LINE

Charles Cayzer set up his shipping business in Liverpool in 1877 to take passengers to India. A year later Captain William Irvine joined the company and, backed by the Glasgow merchant John Muir of James Finlay & Company, Cayzer Irvine & Company was established. Their first ship, Clan Alpine, was sourced from A. Stephen at Glasgow on favourable terms and was launched in September 1878.

In 1880 Clan Line Association of Steamers was created, based at Hope Street in Glasgow, and soon purchased three steamers from George Smith & Sons’ City Line, followed by the almost brand-new Tyne-built Muriel, which was renamed Clan Murray. By 1890 the company was restyled Clan Line of Steamers Ltd and its routes were extended from its traditional area of India to other countries, notably to South Africa.

In 1894 entry to the Persian Gulf trade was achieved through the, was briefly named for operation on this trade.