Woermann-Linie was founded on 15 June 1885 by Adolph Woermann and developed as one of the leading shipping companies between Europe and Africa. From 1899 the company was headquartered in Afrikahaus, Hamburg.
For decades it transported contract labourers to various places on the African continent. For instance, workers from Liberia and Nigeria to Spanish Guinea. The Woermann family sold it to Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie in 1916.
