Woermann Linie

The Woermann-Linie was a German shipping company that operated from 1885 to 1941. It was founded on 15 June 1885 by Adolph Woermann and developed as one of the leading shipping companies to Africa. From 1899 it was based in Afrikahaus in Hamburg. The Woermann familyy sold it to Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie in 1916. For decades it transported contract laborers to various places on the African continent, for instance, workers from Liberia and Nigeria to Spanish Guinea. In 1941–42 it was taken over by John T. Essberger.