![[Eimskipafjelag Íslands house flag, Iceland]](../images/i/is~eimsk2.gif)
image by Rob Raeside, 01 October 2013
Last modified: 2021-10-23 by rob raeside
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image by Rob Raeside, 01 October 2013
I was approached by a person at Eimskip, who asked if
we could remove the image of the fylfot (swastika) flag from the page - it was
discontinued after WW2. In the end we agreed to retain the image, but suppress
it on the page. Meanwhile, I learned that the flag with
the Icelandic logo is now used with an English logo, and I have confirmed this
flag is used.
Rob Raeside, 01 October 2013
![[Eimskipafjelag Íslands house flag, Iceland]](../images/i/is~eimsk.gif)
image by H.M.Here is the new symbol of the shipping company which has helped ensure Iceland's independence: Eimskipafjelag Íslands, which was founded 17 January 1914, after the first president talked about its necessity with some local businessmen. The old symbol was used from the beginning but has not been displayed from around the WW2.
From their press release: At the beginning of next year a new chapter in the
history of Eimskip will begin. Under its A new organization chart, the Eimskip
ehf. transportation company will be one of three independent subsidiaries of
the parent company, The Iceland Steamship Company Ltd. The role of the Eimskip
transport company will continue to be the supplier of choice of comprehensive
transportation and logistic services, guided by the principles of
professionalism and responsibility. Eimskip will build on three core values:
achievement, cooperation and trust.
H.M., 9 December 2002
![[Eimskipafjelag Íslands house flag, Iceland]](../images/i/is~eim11.gif)
image by Eugene Ipavec, 18 June 2017
The photo carrousel on the company
homepage shows a blue variant (compare with national flag, also in the
picture) with greyish lettering and without slogan:
http://eimskip.com/
Quote from `Media Center' section (upper menu) concerning the logo:
"The foundation of the logo is the letter "E" which refers to the name of
the company. The E in the logo is twofold and interconnected representing
the business connections between Eimskip and its customers.
The blue color stands for Iceland and the connection to the ocean, while the
grey /silvered color refers to valuables - the making of capital goods for
Eimskip and its customers."
Logo page:
http://eimskip.com/EN/about/media_center/Merki-Eimskips.html
Note: I suppose the photo of `Selfoss' linked to by Ned (end of FOTW-ws
article) has been changed, as the swastika or fylfot is longer to be seen.
Link to a 1930 poster:
http://postdoc.blog.is/blog/postdoc/image/451079/
Jan Mertens, 20 March 2011
![[Eimskipafjelag Íslands house flag, Iceland]](../images/i/is~eim17.gif)
image by Eugene Ipavec, 18 June 2017
To add to other variants of the flag of this Icelandic shipping line, a version
I saw on the ferry Baldur docked at Stykkishólmur a few weeks ago. The logos
available online all use this shade of lightish blue, while both flags seem to
use a perceptibly darker one, but that might just be weathering.
Eugene Ipavec,
18 June 2017
The Iceland Steamship Co. Ltd. originally traded as H/f Eimskipafelag Islands
changing to the English translation in 1985. The
original flag
(drawn by Jarig Bakker, 14 August 2004) mentioned was
white with a blue cross fylfot or right handed swastika which is no doubt why
it was not seen after WW2, although sources continue to show its existence. The
early Brown series placed it under the name of the Iceland Government and up to
1943 showed it with a squat version of the cross whereas
from 1978 a more elongated version appears indicating that
possibly there was a design change. To confuse matters somewhat, Talbot-Booth
in 1936, 1942 and 1944 publications reverses the cross to make it a left handed
swastika. I presume that he was in error.
Neale Rosanoski, 18 October 2003
The Iceland S.S, Co., Ltd. (Islands, Eimskipafelag H/f) houseflag was recently
drawn by Ivan; Jörg Karaschewski sent an image with a thicker "Hammer of Thor",
which I also find in "All about Ships & Shipping", 1959 - description: "Hammer
of Thor in Blue on White Ground". However Lloyd's Calendar (1957) puts it
simply: Blue swastika on white ground.
Jarig Bakker, 23 October 2003
More surprisingly, it is a clockwise (á la NSDAP)
not a counterclockwise swastika. Is this a variant of the house flag, or the
reverse of the flag, or what?
Santiago Dotor, 28 October 2003
I got the flag together with a Christmas card.
The card shows the office building in Reykjavik from 1926. On the roof
there is also the clockwise swastika. So I think it is the original houseflag
since the beginning in 1914.
Jörg Karaschewski, 29 October 2003
From the National Maritime Museum:
"The house flag of H/E Eimskipafelag, Reykjavik, Iceland. A white rectangular
flag with a blue swastika in the centre.
Jarig Bakker, 14 August 2004
That's not a swastika; the arms are half-length. It's a fylfot, I believe,
though I can't swear to the spelling of that odd word.
Al Kirsch, 14 August 2004
I sailed on the Icelandic Steamship ships from 1963 to 1969. During this time
the swastika flag was flown on their ships wherever. Of course the flag was
observed and drove attention to it, where we went, especially in Germany. The
British merchant people knew that this flag was already in use in this company
from somewhere around 1920.
Guðjón Arngrímsson, 1 November 2006
Photographic confirmation of the swastika flag can be seen at
http://www.heimsnet.is/iceship/hsmyndir/Kaupskip/Eimskip/Skipin/selfoss.html
which show's the company's ship M.V. Selfoss flying the blue swastika on white
house flag. The photo cannot be any earlier than 1999 since that was when the
name Selfoss was first given to the vessel (http://www.heimsnet.is/iceship/hsmyndir/Kaupskip/Eimskip/Eimskip.html).
Ned Smith, 1 November 2006
This logo
is never used in Iceland. It has not been used since after WW2. The logo
shows up when you google
Eimskip.
Ólafur Erling Ólafsson, 26 September 2013
Google have now updated their company presentation for Eimskip. Our image still
appears some seven screens down in Google image search.
On the other hand, we are the second entry in Google text search results for
the combination of Iceland and swastika. I guess that's because the word
swastika appears twelve times on that page, mostly as misidentifications of
the fylfot.
The
page about the Selfoss that we link to on this topic now shows a
different, presumably more recent, photograph, without fylfot flag. The old
photograph has been archived at web.archive.org, though.
(For me, the
Google link at the end of the section does not give an Eimskip
presentation at all, since it's for Google Island, which offers foreigners
like me results in English in the spot where Google.com displays the
presentation.)
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 09 January 2014
![[Samband Islenzkra Samvinnufelaga house flag, Iceland]](../images/i/is~sis.gif)
image by Jarig Bakker, 29 December 2005
Samband Islenzkra Samvinnufelaga, Reykjavik - green flag, white diamond,
black circle, black "SiS".
Source:
Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 29 December 2005
This "Federation of Co-operatives" must be the "Samband" mentioned on
Samskip’s
website:
"Samskip is one of the major logistic companies in the field of reefer container
transport, and offers a complete range of service. With offices in Continental
Europe, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Asia and North and South America, Samskip
is present in the most strategic areas regarding seafood, meat, vegetables,
fruits and poultry products."
From the ‘Samskip / About us / History’ section, upper menu: "Samskip derives
from the Federation of Co-operatives, Samband, which started a shipping company
, Samband Line, in 1943. Samband Line, a division of Samband, was changed into a
limited company in 1991 called Samskip hf. Samband owned 85% of the share
capital" as read here.
A brief presentation of Samskip will follow, but as a variant item seems to
precede the company livery as shown on the
website. German eBay offer no. 150441931798 (end 16 May 2010), put up
by "sloman-fahrer", the pic - somewhat reduced - shows a simple dark blue flag
bearing the company name in white "SAMSKIP".
Jan Mertens, 24 February 2011
From the company website’s ‘Samskip / About us / History’ section:
reorganized in 1993 resulting in reduction of workforce and number of ships from
four to ten; new capital proved advantageous; Geest North Sea Line and British
Seawheel acquired in 2005; one single name "Samskip" introduced in 2006.
Three ships link Iceland and the Faroe Islands to Great Britain and continental
Europe (dry, bulk, and project cargo); a local ferry is operated as well.
Further logistics and warehousing operations are extensive.
Fleet
list, including the ‘Silver Fleet’ reefers partially owned by Samskip.
This image shows a white
table flag
with the company name in dark blue (special font) however the chevron in "K" is
light blue. Source: German eBay offer no. 170482920225 (end 17 May 2010) put up
by "wodkalisa2".
Photos showing the name as currently written on blue,
photo detail.
http://www.portal.fo/?lg=43230
http://feeds.mbl.is/mm/gagnasafn/grein.html?grein_id=1145608
Large image of the name on a "style" page:
http://www.samskip.com/media/logo//SAMSKIP_PositiveLogo.gif
I still have to find a photo of one of the above (or previous) flags, flying on
a ship however.
Jan Mertens, 25 February 2011
