During WW1 the Portuguese government had all German merchant ships, that were in Portuguese ports, seized. This action was a result of pressure brought on the Portuguese by Great Britain. The seizure of the large number of ships, forces the Portuguese government, to ask Britain to help. The result was the creation of the Transportes Maritimos do Estados (T.M.E), a company which the British company Furness & Witthy had interests in. The TME, as the company was known, was engaged by the Portuguese government to transport all imports and exports, to and from, Portugal, the ships being crewed by British officers from the Furness & Witthy.
Among those ships was the ex-German motor vessel Rolandseck, which was Germany's first motor ship. The ship was renamed Mira, but in 1916 was sunk by collision.
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Thank you Kim for the crest
"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"