House Flags of German Shipping Companies (v)

Deutsche Reedereiflaggen (v)

Last modified: 2014-03-10 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: vacuum | vaeth gebr | vbw | veentjer | vega | vega dauber | voege | voge dacker | vogemann | vogler | vollmers(margaretha) | vollmers(willy) | de vries | bugsir ges vulkan |
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• Vacuum Reederei
• Gebrüder Väth
• VBW
• Fritz Veentjer
• "Vega"-Reederei
• Vega Reederei Friedrich Dauber
• Reederei Vöge
• Voge & Dacker
• H. Vogemann
• Hinrich K.P.Vogler
• Margaretha Vollmers
• Willy Vollmers
• Paul Voss
• W. Voss & Co.
• Tankreederei deVries & Co KG
• Bugsir Gesellschaft "Vulkan"

• Veba-Chemie
• Vereinigte Bugsier & Frachtschiffahrt Ges.
• Victoria Shipbrokers
• F.A. Vinnen & Co.
• Vinnen Gebrüder
• Vorsetzen (VBSK)
• VTG

• House Flags of German Shipping Companies
• House Flags of Shipping Companies
• Germany

Vacuum Reederei GmbH

The company was located in Hamburg. The flag ist the same as the one of MOBIL OIL
Source: "Deutsche Reedereien und ihre Erkennungszeichen"; 2nd ed.; Hamburg; 1956; p.41.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Apr 2009

Gebrüder Väth

Gebr.[üder] (Brothers) Väth is an inland shipping company, also involved in port management and logistics, that started shipping on river Main five generations ago. Registered in 1890, Väth built in 1894 the first iron ship to sail on the Main, called ""Morgenstern" (Morning Star). In 1906, they operated MS "Hoffnung" (Hope), the first motorship to sail on the Main. Based in Würzburg since 1941, Väth has been involved in all the major innovations of inland shipping. In 1992, MS "Morgenstern" (2,900 t, 6 x the load of the first "Morgenstern") inaugurated the new Rhine-Main-Danube canal. Väth operated now 14 barges, all but one being more than 100 m in length.

The house flag of Väth is horizontally divided blue-white-blue with a red "V" in the middle, overlapping the blue stripes. Shown as a graphic all over the company website, the flag can be seen hoisted over MS "Gebr. Väth 8", the smallest barge of the fleet.
Source: Company website.
Ivan Sache, 7 Sep 2008

VBW

Here is another interesting flag found on the following photo: It is the centre one in the back, immediately behind the improvised altar.
See this page for a bit of inland shipping history and explanation of the flag (in German): Briefly, the entity in question – VBW or ‘Verein für europäische
Binnenschiffahrt und Wasserstrassen’ is a non-profit organization based in Duisburg-Ruhrort.  The name means “Organization for European Inland Navigation and Waterways”. Founded in 1977 as the result of a merger between the ‘Zentral-Verein für deutsche Binnenschiffahrt’ (Central Organization for German Inland Navigation), founded in 1869, and the ‘Verein zur Wahrung der Rheinschiffahrtsinteressen’ (Organization for the Defence of Rhine Shipping Interests), founded in 1877 – these, too, being non-profit.
The VBW's aim is the promotion of inland navigation in the widest sense thanks to cooperation of all actors including other means of transport.
The Satzung (call it the Rules) of the VBW is reproduced on above page and some interesting flag details are given, but the main thing of course is § 2 i.e. the VBW’s ‘Vereinsflagge’ or organizational flag (I translate): “rectangular, with a diagonal deep-blue cross (saltire, jm), gold-coloured steering wheel and anchor in the centre plus a gold-coloured motto “In the Name of God” on the remaining white fields”.
The text specifies that the motto is meant to symbolize an age-old shipping tradition observed on the beginning of a journey (such as tolling a bell three times, jm).  On the accompanying picture, the words are hardly rendered in gold but the above photo shows them.
§ 5.2 specifies that a meritorious plaque in the form of an oval plaque surrounded by the words „EUROPÄISCHE BINNENSCHIFFFAHRT UND WASSERSTRASSEN“ can be awarded, as decided by a general assembly.  § 8 b) 2. mentions the existence of an honorary council, established for purposes of representation and promotion, of which all “bearers of the ‘Vereinsflagge’ are among the members.

See the following history page showing the plaque's precursor (coloured picture at the end), explaining that it was established in 1924 (at that time, centred on Rhenan interests only) as an award and also the house flag; that same year, it was awarded for the first time.   (By the way, how many famous companies are represented by the men in the painting: Stinnes, Braunkohle, Rhenania, Haniel, Fendel…). See also here.
This picture is clickable – giving all the details – and is presented as a ‘Fahrflagge’ i.e. flag for use on vessels; measures 100 by 150 cm and costs 75.00 €.  
The table flags are much cheaper, of course: You will no doubt have seen the europeanized VBW logo on that website.  Let us hope it will never be put on a flag and replace the venerable ‘Vereinsflagge’ !
Jan Mertens, 7 Apr 2006

Fritz Veentjer

Fritz Veentjer, Moormerland - white flag bordered red, blue "V".
(Moormerland is SE of Emden, along the Ems river. "Veen" and "Moor" are peatlands.)
Image after Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of the World, compiled by J.L. Loughran, Glasgow, 1995 [Loughran 1995]
Jarig Bakker, 7 Sep 2005

"Vega"-Reederei

"Vega"-Reederei GmbH - The company used a white flag with narrow horizontal red stripes on both edges and a red capital "V" in the centre of the flag. This flag was used until 1937. The shipping company was located in Hamburg though the main branch was in Vienna. The company was established after WW1 by Austrian k.u.k. naval officers. Therefore the white and red colour. The only German was Friedrich Dauber who became chief executive officer of the board. In 1937 the Austrians resigned and the company was continued as "Vega-Reederei Friedrich Dauber". Since then the company used the black over red bicolour with white "V".
Source: Jürgen Meyer: "Hamburger Segelschiffe von 1795-1945";ISBN 3-89225-400-1; Hamburg 1999; p.232-233.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Mar 2007

Vega Reederei Friedrich Dauber

Vega Reederei Friedrich Dauber, Hamburg - flag horizontal black over red, white "V".
Image after Brown's Flags and Funnels Shipping Companies of the World, compiled by J.L. Loughran, Glasgow, 1995 [Loughran 1995]
Jarig Bakker, 17 Jan 2006

Reederei Vöge

Shown as a drawing on the site and seen flying on the "Kontakt" (i.e.Contact) page, left menu, is the house flag: medium blue, thin white stripes running parallel the flag's horizontal edges and a large white,serifless initial "V"¯ in the centre.
Jan Mertens, 20 Jun 2010

Variant with narrow lining:
image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 15 Jul 2010

Voge & Dacker

Voge & Dacker, Flensburg - blue swallowtail, white cross formy with black inside-contour; black "V&D".
Image after Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26]
Jarig Bakker, 7 Feb 2005

H. Vogemann

Dov Gutterman spotted the link of H. Vogemann, Hamburg - red with white V.
Santiago Dotor, 11 Nov 2003

Hinrich K.P.Vogler

Vogler's business is water engineering, mainly dredging service. The flag is red. In the centre is a white lozenge fimbriated blue and touching all edges. In the lozenge is a red initial "V" For further information click: this webpage.
Source: I spotted this flag on 10 January 2012 in the harbour area of Hamburg.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 June 2012

Margaretha Vollmers

The company was located in Moorrege (Pinneberg county). It is a red over white over red horizontal triband with celestial blue capitals "CV" in the white stripe.
Source: "Flaggen, Schornsteine, Reedereien- Flaggen und Schornsteine der deutschen Reedereien und ihre Schiffe über 300 BRT"; Hamburg 1957; p.F29
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 Apr 2009

Willy Vollmers

The company was located in Moorrege (Pinneberg county). It is a white flag with a big, dark blue capital "V" in the centre and a red 5-point star in each corner.
Source: "Flaggen, Schornsteine, Reedereien- Flaggen und Schornsteine der deutschen Reedereien und ihre Schiffe über 300 BRT"; Hamburg 1957; p.F29
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 Apr 2009

Paul Voss

The company was located in Itzehoe. The flag is divided by a white pile pointing to the bottom into celestial blue(hoist) and red(fly). In the pile is a black capital "V" the bars being parallel to the pile's edge.Above the "V" is a red 5-point star, in both corners at the bottom a white one each.
Source: "Flaggen, Schornsteine, Reedereien- Flaggen und Schornsteine der deutschen Reedereien und ihre Schiffe über 300 BRT"; Hamburg 1957; p.F29
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 Apr 2009

W. Voss & Co.

Voss & Company - W. Voss & Co. is a tank cleaning company located in Hamburg-Moorfleet.
Description of flag: It is a white flag divided by two red horizontal stripes. Over all is a black inscription "V & Co.".
Source: I spotted this flag on 12 April 2007 in Moorfleet.
Though the basic pattern is the same like that one of NYK line, I do not believe, that both companies belong together.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Sep 2008

Tankreederei deVries & Co KG

The company was located in Hamburg and existed from 1955 to 1984. During this time the company ran 37 ships as owner or corresponding owner.
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2009
Flag#1:
The flag was white. In its centre was a "V" shaped like a winged dragon head in a blue circle with the wings exceeding the circle.
Source: "Deutsche Reedereien und ihre Erkennungszeichen"; 2nd ed.; Hamburg; 1956; p.40
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2009
Flag#2:
A star was added in the upper hoist corner. This flag was only used on the company's first freighter since 1957.
Source: Klaus-Peter Bühne's webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2009

Bugsir Gesellschaft "Vulkan"

According to source Hamburg shipowners register provides evidence of this tugboat company's existence at least from 1879 until 1884. The flag is divided by a black saltire. The quarters at hoist and fly are white, the others red. The ensemble is superimposed by a white, upright anchor.
Source: Otto Mathies: "Hamburgs Reederei 1814 - 1914", Hamburg 1924, p.81
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 10 Jul 2012