The original American Petroleum business comprised Dutch and Belgian branches, despite its name. Rosanoski places their separation after the First World War, probably following Standard Oil of New Jersey’s takeover. The Belgian company became Standard American Petroleum in May 1939 and transferred its two ships to Panama Tanker in 1940. It resumed after the war as Esso Standard (Belgium), became Esso Belgium around 1970 and ceased shipowning in the mid-1990s. The Dutch branch passed through Standard Amerikaansche Petroleum and Petroleum Industrie Maatschappij before becoming Esso Tankvaart Maatschappij in the late 1950s, continuing shipping into the later 1980s. Sources disagree on the intervening dates and exact names.
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