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Hungarian Levant Steamship Co. Ltd., 1897-1923

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  • Active:
    1897-1923
    Country:
    AH
    City:
    Budapest/Fiume
    Short name:
    MK
    In 1987 Hungarian Levant S.S. Co. was organized with four 1000 tons steamers for the extention of Danube line service of the Royal Hungarian River and Sea Nav. Co. (MFTR). They served the Black Sea traffic then commenced so far undeservedly disregarded Australian routs carrying vast amount of Hungarian grain to the fifth continent. The government spent great sums on companies, so on Levante, contracted with the state. These agreements were usually valid for five years. Last modifications in these contracts were closed not long before outbreak of the war. Beyond contractual subsidies these companies enjoyed consessions in case of building new ships, too. Hungarian Levant S.S. Co. hired mainly Hungarians on board its ships from captains to deckhands. The company's board of directors and supervisory board showed the same picture.

    As more and more steamships sailed under Hungarian flag, some of them unavoidably got involved in shipwrecks and accidents, too. For example, dinamite smuggled illegally on board the company's s/s VASKAPU blew off on the Black Sea. Russian authorities seized the ship immediatelly. In 1906 the CORVIN MÁTYÁS shipwrecked then their s/s NÁDOR sank in a collision. Time after time it was very difficult to replace lost ships with new ones but this was neccessary for companies subsidised by the state because obligations set out in the contracts were to be met.

    In the middle of August, 1914 - when the war began - the three biggest Hungarian company, the Adria, the Atlantica and the Levante had 53 ships representing 155.542 BRT. Of these ships 19 fell in enemy hands. Of the ships of Hungarian Levant The TÁTRA was seized by Italy, so was the TURUL by Australia, the KÁRPÁT and the ATTILA by Great Britain. Those Levante ships that escaped to neutral ports could not enjoy hospitality too long either. When Italy and the United States entered the war all of them fell in enemy hands as war prize. Most ships of the Hungarian fleet found shelter in the Adriatic during the war years. Many of these were requisited mostly for the K.u.K. Kriegsmarine but some became the Army's supply ships. They transported troops, supply, injured soldiers and prisoners of war. These were very hard times, most of the officers were enlisted fulfilling their war service duties on their former ships. After Italy had became a warfaring nation, the ships sailed entirely darkened and the usual coastal lights did not help masters in navigation either.

    During the ceasefire 7 Hungarian Levant steamships stationed in the Adriatic Sea Victors changed the merchant shipping flag of the collapsed empire - the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy - to white-blue-white flag of the allied forces on all ships. Companies with Croatian feelings raised the Croatian, companies commited to Italy - so as the Levante - raised the Italian flag on the masts of their vessels. Multinational citizens of Fiume who in the given situation hoped that their town would receive a free town status, which would have been favourable not only for the Budapest based companies but also for local companies, became soon dissapointed. Between rivals, the newly formed Slovenian-Croatian-Serbian Kingdom and the Italian Kingdom, bloody struggle broke out for the possesion of the city. Hungarians at Fiume saw heavy heartedly the deterriorating public situation. They had to realize that their work and money invested throughout many decades had lost for them and the country. Susak at the eastern side of the Fiumara river with the Baross dock became part of the new south-slavian state, whereas the western side of the river belonged to the Italian Kingdom. This situation was recognized by the so called Trianon Truce dictated by Great Powers which not only deprived Hungary of her sea coast but took away all of her sea-going ships, too.

    Hungarian Levant S.S. Co. was first reorganised under Italian flag, the company established a Fiume based branch Under the name Levante S. A. N. in May, 1921. Four of its remaining six ships were renamed in 1922. The Levante fleet consisiting of the CONTE STEFANO TISZA, KOSSUTH, ORVIETO, ORTE, LEVANTE and CORVIN steamers, was sold in 1934. They tried to sort out their situation as a Hungarian company and tried to buy new ships but this only succeded later in 1928.

    József Horváth: What happens to you Hungarian sea navigation? Aqua Magazin, vol. 17-18., 2001.

    Assign
  • 1897
    1923

    1923

    Sea-going cargo steamer-C/2.

    AUGUSZTA FŐHERCZEGNŐ Built 1911 W. Dobson & Co.
    L:115,2m B:15,2m D:9,45m MP:1900 LE