Nourse Line facts for kids
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Trade name
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Nourse Line |
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Industry | Shipping |
Founded | 1861United Kingdom | in
Founder | James Nourse |
Defunct | 1990 |
Headquarters |
United Kingdom
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Key people
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The Nourse Line was a shipping company started by Captain James Nourse in 1861. After getting his first ship, the Ganges, in 1861, Nourse built one of the last big groups of sailing ships.
Contents
The Early Life of James Nourse
James Nourse was born in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1828. After spending enough time at sea, he earned his Master’s Certificate in London in 1851. He then became a captain for a ship owned by W.N. Lindsay of London. A year later, he joined Foley, Aikman & Company of Glasgow. He was the Master (captain) aboard a ship called Aberfoyle. Nourse worked on this ship for three years until it caught fire. After that, he was captain of the Tasmania until 1861.
Building the Nourse Fleet
In 1861, James Nourse bought his first ship, the Ganges. It was an 839-ton iron sailing ship. He bought 75% of the ship from its builders, Pile, Hay & Company, in Sunderland. The Ganges sailed to India to trade between Calcutta and Australia. There, James Nourse met the owners of Sandbach, Tinne & Company. This company imported and exported goods like sugar, coffee, and rum. They also transported workers from Melanesia.
Nourse saw a future in these trades. He stopped being a captain on the Ganges to focus on managing his business. In 1864, he opened an office in London and bought the rest of the Ganges. James Nourse got a contract with the Crown Agents for the Colonies. This contract was to provide shipping services between India and places like Mauritius, the West Indies, and Fiji. Once he had these contracts, James Nourse bought another ship and rented a third one.
Transporting Workers by Sea
Nourse Line began transporting Indian workers who had signed contracts to work in the West Indies. These workers were called "indentured labourers." This meant they agreed to work for a set time in a new country, often in exchange for their travel costs.
The usual route for Nourse ships was to leave a European port with cargo like salt or railway iron for Calcutta. From Calcutta, they would pick up rice and indentured workers for the West Indies. After that, they sailed to the east coast of North America. There, they loaded grain or oil to take back to Europe. Some ships sailed directly back to Calcutta from the West Indies. They carried workers whose contracts had ended. Other trips went from Calcutta to Mauritius or the Fiji Islands. These trips carried workers for the sugar plantations. Voyages to Fiji usually returned to Calcutta through Australia with loads of coal.
Between 1866 and 1869, the company built four more ships. These ships were designed for carrying indentured workers. The rules said that one and a half tons of ship space equaled one passenger. Later, space was measured by covered deck area. A Surgeon Superintendent checked the health of those traveling. The ship's Purser managed food and water supplies. Both officers received extra pay for each person who completed the voyage successfully.
Nourse Line bought two more ships in 1872 and 1873. In 1874, Nourse ordered five new ships. In the 1880s, the Nourse Line added fifteen more ships to its fleet. The company kept building sailing ships even into the 1890s. Most other ship owners had already switched to steam ships by then. James Nourse believed sailing ships were more economical for the types of trade he was doing. Nourse Line continued to buy both new and used ships.
After James Nourse's Passing
James Nourse passed away in April 1897. His main creditor, C.A. Hampton, and E. Bromehead took control of his business and the fleet. The ships continued to operate as before. On February 19, 1903, the company became a limited company called James Nourse Ltd. C.A. Hampton became its first chairman.
The Age of Steam Ships
Nourse Line finally started using steamships in May 1904. They received their first steamship, Indus. Nourse Line slowly began to get rid of its older sailing ships. By 1908, all of them had been sold or scrapped. By the start of the First World War, Nourse had bought five more ships. They ran a regular monthly service from Calcutta to the West Indies. The company often acted as both shipowners and freight agents. This meant they bought and sold goods themselves to keep their ships full.
Nourse Line During World War I
The system of indentured labor ended around the time the First World War began. So, the company did not feel the loss of these contracts until after the war. Nourse Line lost two of its ships during the war: Indus and Dewa. They were replaced almost right away. The Megna was bought in 1916. The Betwa was first designed to carry indentured workers. But it was changed into a cargo ship and delivered in 1917.
To reduce its war risks and keep its number of ships, the P&O bought Nourse Line in 1917. They also bought Union Steamship Company of New Zealand and Hain Steamship Company.
See also
- Indian Indenture Ships to Fiji