The "Flower" Motor Ship Company Limited was established in 1912 to finance the production of ships using internal combustion engines i.e. marine diesel ships, built in British yards. It was an enterprise backed by a prominent merchant bank in the City, M Samuel & Co. These ships were built two by Swan Hunter and one by Armstrongs. The ARBELLA and ARABIS were torpedoed and ARUM was sold back to the builders by the liquidator. The Company was financially successful and the company went into voluntary liquidation in 1917. The ships were successful both as regards fuel consumption and carrying capacity.

The directors were Marcus Samuel, Frederick Lane, Samuel Samuel and James Noble Graham. Shareholders included many well known City names and several in the Persian Gulf on which route the vessels traded.