Lloyd’s Register Apologizes for Slave Trade Role
Lloyd’s Register (LR), a prominent British class society, has issued an apology for its historical involvement in the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved African people. This acknowledgment follows a thorough re-examination of the organization’s past, particularly its role in supporting the slave economy from its founding in 1760 until the UK’s Slavery Abolition Act in 1833.
Historical Context and LR’s Involvement
Between 1640 and 1807, Britain was a key player in the transatlantic slave trade, with British ships making approximately 10,000 voyages. These journeys forcibly transported around 3.4 million Africans, with an estimated 800,000 dying during transit. The trade operated on a triangular route connecting Britain, Africa, and the Caribbean. Goods were exchanged for kidnapped individuals, who were then subjected to brutal conditions as they were transported to work on plantations producing sugar and tobacco.
LR, originally known as the Society for the Registry of Shipping, began its historical review in 2022 in partnership with the Wilberforce Institute. The research focused on records from 1764 to 1834, revealing that LR documented vessel seaworthiness, which facilitated the buying, selling, and insuring of ships involved in the slave trade. This information was sold to subscribers, many of whom were directly engaged in the slave economy.
Notably, several early committee members of LR were identified as enslavers or traffickers. The organization acknowledges that it played a significant role in supporting a maritime system that enabled slavery. LR expressed deep regret for its part in this dark chapter of history, emphasizing the importance of recognizing its legacy for the descendants of those affected and society at large.
In response to its findings, Lloyd’s Register has committed to a £1 million grant to The National Archives to launch the PASSAGE initiative. This program aims to catalog and share archived materials related to transatlantic slavery and support scholarship in the Caribbean and West Africa. Additionally, LR will sponsor up to five postgraduate students from Africa studying maritime subjects. The organization recognizes that confronting its past is challenging but essential for fostering understanding and healing.
Source: reuters.com