Houseflags of Norwegian maritime companies (A-I)

Last modified: 2003-11-22 by phil nelson
Keywords: bergenske dampskibsselskab.bona shipholding | color line | continental ship management | fred olsen lines | fylkesbaatane i sogn og fjordane | i.m. skaugen | ivaran lines |
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• Bergenske Dampskibsselskab
• Bona Shipholding
• Color Line
• Continental Ship Management
• Fred Olsen Lines
• Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane
• I.M. Skaugen ASA
• Ivaran Lines OS

by Jan Oskar Engene

by James Dignan
Source; The dumpy book of ships and the sea

Newcastle - Bergen Service

Houseflag: Red Burgee with Blue Borders, top and bottom, two White Bands and BDS over Star in White on Red.
Jarig Bakker, 13 October 2003

It was founded in Bergen in 1851. According to my sources, the letters were arranged in a semi-circular pattern above the star.
Jan Oskar Engene, 16 October 2003

In "All about Ships and Shipping, 1959" the letters are in a row, like James drew them, so possibly two variations existed. Description: Red Burgee with Blue Border, top and bottom, two White Bands and BDS over Star in White on Red. Funnel: Black, with three White Bands.
Jarig Bakker, 16 October 2003

The letters also appear in a straight line in "Flags, Funnels and Hull Colours"
Ned Smith, 16 October 2003

Given that the BDS existed for more than 130 years, variation in house flag and funnel is not unlikely. However, I am not sure that such variation actually occurred with the BDS house flag.

Last night I went through an illustrated history of the company, the book by shipping historian Dag Bakka jr: Bergenske: Byen og selskapet (Bergen: Seagull, 1993). Judging from ship photos of real house flags the letters were arranged in an arch (or semi-circle to use the term of yesterday) and this is how it remained throughout the company's 132 years. However, in printed material, the BDS used a logo consisting of a drawing of a flying house flag - as if it folded out in the wind. In these drawings the letters appear to be in a line. In real use, however, the letters appear to have been arranged in an arch. The back cover of Bakka's book illustrates the house flag and funnels of the BDS in colour. The house flag has the letters in an arch. The funnel was originally black with three white rings, at a later date (1960's ?) changed to yellow with three white rings.
Jan Oskar Engene, 17 October 2003

by Jorge Candeias

by Jorge Candeias

by jorge candeias

by António Martins

Much of the Fred. Olsen company is still based in Norway, as well as in Liechtenstein, the Channel Islands, etc. The company is involved in shipping, manufacturing of watches (Timex), etc. Fred. Olsen also owns much land in Gomera, one of the Canary Islands, which explains the Líneas Fred. Olsen with a houseflag similar to that of the Norwegian company but with the colours of Spain.
Jan Oskar Engene, 5 February 1999

by Jorge Candeias

by Phil Nelson