Merchants Transportation Company Sails Through History

The Merchants Transportation Company was founded in 1919 by a group of entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to provide reliable transportation services to the growing industrial sector. This marked the beginning of a long and storied history for the company.

The company's early years were marked by rapid growth and expansion, with the addition of new routes and services to meet the increasing demands of its customers. By the mid-1920s, Merchants Transportation Company had established itself as a major player in the transportation industry.

One of the key factors that contributed to the company's success was its commitment to innovation and technology. In the 1930s, Merchants Transportation Company began to invest in new equipment and infrastructure, including the introduction of diesel engines and improved road conditions.

The Merchants Transportation Company has a rich history that spans over a century and a half. It was incorporated on April 24, 1852, with Thomas C. Jenkins, George J. Appold, Benjamin Deford, Johnathan W. Pottle, and Solomon Spaulding among its first directors.

The company initially served ports in Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, Jacksonville, Florida, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. In 1861, some of its vessels were commandeered for federal transport, and again in 1898, three of its ships were charted for use in the Spanish-American War.

Admiral Merchants Motor Freight, Inc. was formed in the 1960s through the integration of three old-line trucking firms. The company's founder, Bob Short, was a transportation proprietor with a diverse range of business ventures, including real estate and professional sports ownership.

In 2016, the Chinese Ministry of Transport issued its 13 five-year plan for water transport, highlighting the need to build up China's shipping industry to support the country's ability to transport crude oil, iron ore, liquefied natural gas, grain, coal, and other resources.

China Merchants Energy Transportation recently authorized Shenzhen Ro-Ro to buy and build two car-carrying vessels.

The vessels will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) for a price of 271 million Chinese Yuan, which is approximately $39.25 million for one ship or 542 million Chinese Yuan, which is around $75.61 million for two ships.

The order price for the ships is 522 million Chinese Yuan, with the remainder being fees to unrelated parties, according to China Merchants.

The central government updated automotive standards in 2016, resulting in a renewal of the landside vehicle fleets in China, which has led to strong demand for waterborne vehicle transport.

China Merchants Energy Transportation is taking steps to strengthen China's shipping industry. The company aims to increase the proportion of Chinese-owned carriage of seaborne commodities.

In 2016, the Chinese Ministry of Transport issued its 13 five-year plan for water transport, highlighting the need to build up the sector to support China's ability to transport various resources. The plan was a response to China's weak shipping industry.

As of January 2019, the company has 49 very large crude carriers and four more on order. This is a significant investment in the company's fleet structure.

The company is ordering two more very large ore carriers to join the 26 VLOCs it already manages. This is a strategic move to help reduce the cost of transporting iron ore.

The company notes that using 400,000 deadweight ships can drive down the cost of transporting iron ore compared to vessels of 200,000 to 300,000 deadweight. This can benefit Chinese iron and steel-making companies by reducing the cost of their raw materials.

The Merchants and Miners Transportation Company was incorporated on April 24, 1852.

Thomas C. Jenkins, George J. Appold, Benjamin Deford, Johnathan W. Pottle, and Solomon Spaulding were among the first directors of the company.

The company served ports in Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, Jacksonville, Florida, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.

In 1861, some of its vessels were commandeered for federal transport.

Three Merchant and Miners Transportation Company ships were charted for use in the Spanish-American War in 1898.

The company inaugurated a Philadelphia-Savannah run in 1900.

In 1907, the company bought the Windsor Line, which operated between Philadelphia and Boston.

A line was established to Jacksonville in 1908.

The company was directly involved with World War II, technically suspending its services for the duration of the war.

On April 11, 1942, the Merchants and Miners Transportation Company was appointed General Agent by the War Shipping Administration, in charge of the management of a number of vessels in the off-shore trade.

The company began the process of dissolution and liquidation on March 17, 1948.