The Early Years (1824 – 1914):

The GSN was founded in 1824 and is one of the oldest successful steamship companies in the world. It originally operated originally operated Thames, North Sea and English Channel cargo and passenger services. A service to Lisbon and Gibraltar was also operated. In 1836 the London & Edinburgh Steam Packet Co. was acquired with their six steamers. Mediterranean services commenced in 1882, increasing into a substantial network of cargo/passenger routes. In 1894 some voyages were made to West Africa, but these ceased in 1895. Between 1894 and 1901 voyages were also made to North and South America and Gulf of Mexico ports.

The First World War (1914 – 1919):

During the Great War, 23 vessels were lost and a large rebuilding programme began at the end of the war. In 1919 the Humber - London service of G. R. Haller Ltd and the London - Ghent service of Leach & Co. were purchased.

The Interwar Years (1919 – 1939):

General Steam Navigation Co. was taken over by P&O Steam Navigation Co. in 1920, but the company continued its own management. A new company, Great Yarmouth Shipping Co was formed jointly to operate services between London and Great Yarmouth via Lowestoft and Hull. The Rhine - London Line was taken over in 1931 and the London & Dunkirk Shipping Co. in 1933. The Moss Hutchison Line, Liverpool with its Mediterranean trade was acquired in 1934 after the liquidation of the Royal Mail Lines group of which it was a member. The New Medway Steam Packet Co. was taken over in 1936 to give GSNC a monopoly of the Thames excursion business. The subsidiary company Grand Union Shipping Co. was formed in 1937 and in 1939 an interest was purchased in Turner, Edwards & Co., Bristol which was later taken over.

The Second World War (1939 – 1945):

The company and its subsidiaries lost 21 ships during the Second World War, but these were replaced after the war. Two fine excursion motorships were built to replace two lost in the war.

The Final Years (1945 – 1972):

Whilst initially successful, passenger numbers began to drop through the late 1950s and 1960s. The final straw was probably the start of Stena Line’s "Londoner" service from Tilbury to Calais, using modern car ferries, in 1965. The GSN excursion steamers were withdrawn at the end of the 1966 season. The UK partner in Normandy Ferries, formed the following year in 1967, was GSN, and early publicity material and postcards featured their name. Ironically, the service which hastened their closure ceased after just a couple of years. The traditional GSN cargo trades also gradually declined. However, trade gradually declined due mostly to higher dock charges in the UK than Continental ports. Great Yarmouth Shipping Co. and Grand Union Shipping Co. ceased trading in 1970/71. GSNC became wholly owned by P & O Line in 1972 and disappeared as an independent company.

Related Websites:

P&O Ferries
www.poferries.com

P&O Group
www.pogroup.com