History
Sailing ships were still in use when the Clarksons story began in 1852. The business expanded rapidly, thanks to the dynamic leadership which has characterised Clarksons from then until the present day.
Becoming exclusive brokers to Esso in the USA in the 1920s helped establish Clarksons as the biggest tanker brokers in the world. We have since developed into a global conglomerate establishing a network of offices across five continents, providing an array of financial as well as port services, based on our core business of shipbroking and the provision of market intelligence - unrivalled in its scope - on the shipping and offshore industries.
Shipowning
Clarksons' involvement in owning ships been intermittent. It goes back to the 1870s with shares in Norwegian ships carrying guano from South America. The company became owners in our own right in the 1950s and at one point had a fleet of six bulk carriers of over 700,000dwt, all later sold. Over the years Clarksons owned a variety of tonnage including tankers, general cargo ships, ore carriers, refrigerated cargo vessels and products tankers, all of which were eventually sold.
Image: 'Clarkspey', one of Clarksons first post WWII ships.