Hulls as Flags

Kudos to Brian: see his comment to the left on the “lassoing polar bears” and Ernestina connection. See another New York connection with Ernestina here.

The first scheduled trans-Atlantic packet service ran between New York and Liverpool 190 years ago, the Black Ball Line, marked by its flag: a black ball on a red field. I suppose the flag served as marketing at the dock. Here’s a twist on this even more conspicuous than a stack insignia. Can you guess the line for each of these vessels?

 

MOL Explorer runs for . . . MOL.

 

Energy Pride?

 

Al-Ihsa’a?

 

Minerva Xanthe?

I don’t imagine they did hull painting –black ball on red field–back in 1817.

By the way, all fotos here by Will Van Dorp in October 2007.