D.L. Wu, 伍德鄰, and the Taiship Shipping Group

D.L. Wu (伍德鄰) (1905-1995) devoted his entire life to the shipping industry.

After attending the Shanghai Baptist College and the University of the Philippines, he started his shipping career in Shanghai in 1928 where he worked for the China Merchants Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.

Still in Shanghai, he joined the San Peh Steam Navigation Co. in 1937 and he was also the Chinese manager of John Manners & Co. there. Having gained extensive experience in shipping, D.L. Wu began his own shipping ventures in 1942, and was also involved in banking and insurance.

In 1947, faced with increasing difficulties for business in Shanghai, D.L. Wu moved his shipping interests to Hong Kong where he set up the Taiship Group in 1951: since then the group has flourished and is still an active business today.(1)

He (T.Y Chao) had been involved in a joint venture with George Cheng of Ping An and D.L, Wu of Taiship Co. Ltd, but it did not last. D.L. Wu, who had been the Chinese manager of John Manners & Co. in Shanghai, had set up Taiship Co. Ltd in Hong Kong and the company became a solid and very well-respected medium-sized HK ship owning company, run today D.L.’s son, Joseph Wu. (2)

Source:

1. The Maritime Museum, Hong Kong
2. Changing Places: The remarkable story of the Hong Kong Shipowners, S. Zarach, Hong Kong Shipowners Association, 2007

This article was first posted on 27th January 2021.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. Richard C.K. Chan (陳卓堅): timber baron, shipping tycoon and stamp collector
2. 45th Anniversary of first scheduled shipping container service HK-USA , Vietnam war connection
3. Kwik Djoen Eng, 郭春映, North Point shipping reclamation, 1920s
4. R.P. de La Sala – the Global Shipping and Industrial Magnate from HK
5. Jebshun Shipping (捷順船務)
6. The Isthmian Shipping Line 1910-1974 – monthly sailing from Hong Kong to New York 1950s
7. J S Hook, Son & Company, shipping and commission agents, 1867
8. Andrew Weir Shipping and Trading Co.Ltd (Bank Line) – connection to Sha Lo Wan Mine, Lantau
9. Ng Jim Kai (吳東啓） – Financier of the Chinese Revolution and Pioneer of the Garment and Shipping Industries in Hong Kong