Liverpool shipping community history

History of the Branch and the Port of Liverpool

It is believed that Liverpool Shipbrokers formed an association in 1905, and after searching through available documents and records we have been unable to find any reference to this date.

We detail a brief synopsis of shipbroking activities and port developments

1853 London Shipbrokers Custom-House Agents Benevolent Society formed

1894 Liverpool Shipbrokers Benevolent Society formed - and exists today.

Comment was made in the annual comprehensive Journal which the Society published which made reference from the London Society that they were envious of the extent and enthusiasm of their colleagues in Liverpool.

Reference and drawings show that SHIPBROKERS met with Traders and Commodity Brokers and Ship Owners to book cargoes and Ships. Martins Bank, (now part of Barclays), certainly conducted overseas transactions.

In its heyday, around the 1900s the Liverpool Shipbrokers were extremely active and their professional input was influential in local and worldwide trade . They held an annual banquet to which leading politicians and even Bishops were invited. They were closely involved in the development of the port and trade - for instance pressing for extentions of dockside warehousing and strongly lobbying for reductions in dock dues and other improvements which could enhance trade to the port etc. They also gave out benefits to Shipbrokers and their families who had come upon hard times. A doctor was also a member.

A check of the records around 1905 did not reveal any reference to a formation of a Liverpool Branch of Shipbrokers - although we found that the Liverpool Shipbrokers Benevolent Society represented Shipbrokers in commercial matters as well as benevolence.

1911 The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers was founded in London

1917 The first A.G. M. of the LIVERPOOL District Association of Chartered Shipbrokers was held

1920 The I.C.S. was granted a Royal Charter

1958 It would appear that the LIVERPOOL District was re-titled "The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (Liverpool Branch)"

Several "family" owned Shipbroking firms have closed or been amalgamated since the 1950s as trades changed etc but there are probably the same number operating today but looking after Charterers or Importers interests rather than directly with Ship Owners. There are a few engaged in Chartering / Sale and Purchase. Some have diversified into stevedoring / warehousing / transport / bunkering etc. One is certainly involved with off-shore wind farm supply vessels - another supplies the gas fields.

There are also various major Liner companies serving their own vessel's in Liverpool.

Port of Liverpool

1667 A Mr Smith came up from London following the plague and great fire and opened up a sugar refinery.      Edward Moore had a plantation on Barbados and had black and white slaves (sold for £15.00) and exported sugar cane to Mr Smith in Liverpool. Cocoa and spices were also sent to Liverpool.

U.S. Virginia tobacco also became an important import.

Gradually ships sailed back to the Americas with return cargoes from Liverpool and increased when the Industrial revolution evolved i.e. linen and cotton from Manchester, woollens from Yorkshire, cutlery from Sheffield, hardware from the Midlands.

Liverpool grew in size and in 1715 the first impounded dock was built by Thomas Steer. This facility enabled ships to stay afloat at all times although they could only dock/un-dock at high water. (this dock has recently been excavated during the building of a new shopping/hotel area "Liverpool One" and is now to be opened for visitors under the new buildings).

Clearly the port greatly benefited from the "slave trade" triangle i.e the ships would call at West Africa - pick up the "cargo" of slaves and take to work on the sugar and cotton plantations. They would then load sugar and tobacco etc and bring back to Liverpool. Bristol was another leading port in this trade.

1796 22,400 tons of cargo passed through Liverpool

1807 The abolition of slavery was bravely pursued through Parliament by William Roscoe - a Liverpool M.P.

1811 611,190 tons passed through - this demonstrates that Liverpool trade expanded worldwide and was not reliant upon the slave trade - No Slaves ever came to Liverpool.

1815 The first steam powered ship came to Liverpool

1844 Albert Dock was built - including a major brick built dock side warehouse complex. Regrettably it soon became outmoded when the size of ships increased. It is well supported today with sightseers visiting the Maritime Museum and the many shops, cafes and bars that have opened in the old warehouse ` buildings.

1850 Liverpool's exports were double that of London !

1858 The conglomerate of docks which had been built on both sides of the River Mersey were taken into control by the formation of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board by an act of Parliament. Leading Ship Owners served on the Board but in spite of frequent lobbying the Shipbrokers could not gain any seats on the board. The Board dictated the level of ship dues rates etc.

As records show the Shipbrokers on the Benevolent Society strongly lobbied for improvements and expansions.

Some 5 miles of impounded docks were built on the both sides of the river mostly by Jessie Hartly in the mid to late 1800s

1950s As Great Britain recovered after World War II Liverpool again became the number one export port. As with most U.K. major ports Liverpool had sustained heavy bombing damage during the war including the total destruction of one dock - No 2 Huskisson dock branch dock - when a ship full of explosives was hit and of course a high explosion occurred)

Many sheds and facilities had to be repaired to be able to handle the demand of ships and cargoes

Present day

Liverpool has been affected in the last 20 years by the introduction of containers taking general cargo away from conventional ships. Trade and the number of vessels calling has been reduced although the tonnage passing through the Port has not dropped significantly. This is because the port has sought a diversity of cargoes such as oils chemicals and many differing bulk materials.

Most general cargoes are North Atlantic related with feeder services to Ireland.

Until the current recession, steel cargoes from China were prolific as were steel scrap exports. Many U.K. and worldwide including shipping in general has been hit hard by the recession.

The port is currently owned and managed by a private company Peel.

Holdings and we the Liverpool Branch of Chartered Shipbrokers meet regularly with them to discuss current problems etc.

The Branch holds an annual dinner to which some 500 persons usually attend

and is respected throughout the "shipping" community as being a major event

on the calendar.

Thanks must be given to David Gilmour FICS for his time in researching and preparing this information.

Liverpool, 15th April 2009.