Dates: 1981 -

Under the direction of the new parent company C. Rowbotham & Sons (Management) Ltd continued to expand and in 1981 took on the new title ‘Rowbotham Tankships Ltd.’ Further acquisitions followed including the Hull Gates Shipping Co., of Hull, so advances that that had been made by the company while still under family control, had been built upon, making Rowbotham Tankships the largest short sea tanker company in the UK.

Due to a financial crisis in 1985 the Ingram Corporation were advised by its bankers to sell Rowbotham Tankships and it was acquired by the New Jersey based Marine Transport Lines Inc.

On the 3rd May 1990 P & O Bulk Shipping acquired 50% of the assets of Rowbotham Tankships for a reported ?11.2 million, and became joint partners with Marine Transport Lines Inc. Then on 15th January 1993 P & O purchased the other 50% interest from Marine Transport Lines, and the Rowbotham name disappeared with the formation of ‘P & O Tankships Ltd’ a subsidiary of P & O Bulk Shipping.

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