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DAPG/ESSO (German Shipping Company)

Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft, Esso Tankschiffreederei

image by Jorge Candeias, 7 Jan 2005

Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft
DAPG - black hoist
Esso Tankschiffreederei

See also:

Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft

No, this is not the old flag of Ruanda. It's similar, though. A vertical tricolour of blue, yellow and red with a big red R in the yellow band. But the caption is practically illegible. I think the first word is "Deutsch", I believe that the second begins with an R, but the rest is a mystery to me.
Jorge Candeias, 7 Jan 2005

It must be related to this one... the stripe near the hoist being black, however... No. 653 in the on-line 1912 Lloyds Flags & Funnels, i.e. 'Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft, Hamburg' (German-American Petroleum Company). As to what the 'R' stands for, I've really no idea.
Jan Mertens, 8 Jan 2005

The "R" denotes W.A. Riedemann, who was largely instrumental in the formation of the company. In the 1930's the "WARIED" Tankschiff-Rhederei had a red, white and black flag. Riedemann had been in at the formation of the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, which later became known as ESSO, whose mark has now replaced that of Riedemann on the ships, though the flag continued to be flown for a number of years, and is still flown on occasion, in memory of its founder.
Source: Loughran, "A Survey of Mercantile Houseflags & Funnels", 1979.
Jarig Bakker, 16 Oct 2006

DAPG - black hoist

image by Jorge Candeias, 21 Jan 2005

Esso Tankschiffreederei

image by Jorge Candeias, 21 Jan 2005

Interestingly, a similar flag (now a tricolour of black, white and red) is given for 'Esso Tankschiffreederei GmbH Hamburg' (Esso Tanker Shipping Company) at the Biedenkarken site. See thirteenth row, last flag. I suppose various company ramifications or evolutions are responsible for these differences, or is it all a coincidence?
Jan Mertens, 8 Jan 2005