Palm Line

Palm Line was a British shipping company, a subsidiary of the United Africa Company, itself a subsidiary of Unilever. Established in 1949, it operated cargo liner services primarily between the United Kingdom and West Africa. Palm Line played a crucial role in facilitating trade, transporting manufactured goods from the UK to West Africa and agricultural products, particularly palm oil and other commodities, back to the UK.

The company's ships were easily identifiable by their names, which all included the word "Palm" (e.g., Nigeria Palm, Ibadan Palm). These vessels were purpose-built for the West African trade, often incorporating features designed for the challenging conditions of the region's ports.

Over the years, Palm Line expanded its operations, adapting to changes in the shipping industry and the economies of the UK and West Africa. However, by the late 1980s, the company faced increasing competition and ultimately ceased trading as an independent entity. Its ships were sold off or transferred to other companies within the Unilever group.

While Palm Line no longer exists as an independent shipping line, its legacy remains in the history of British maritime trade and its contribution to the economic development of West Africa. Its ships are remembered fondly by those who sailed on them and by communities in both the UK and West Africa that relied on its services.