Pacific Steam Navigation Company Overview and Services

The Pacific Steam Navigation Company was a British shipping line that operated in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was founded in 1837 by William Towns.

The company's main focus was on providing transportation services between the UK and South America, as well as within the region. It had a fleet of ships that traveled to various ports in South America, including Valparaiso and Callao.

Pacific Steam Navigation Company offered a range of services, including cargo transportation and passenger travel. Its ships carried goods such as grains, coal, and machinery.

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The Pacific Steam Navigation Company was founded by William Wheelwright in London in 1838. It was the first company to use steam ships for commercial traffic in the Pacific Ocean.

The company started operations in 1840 with two steam ships, Chile and Peru, which carried mail between ports. Early ports of call included Valparaíso, Coquimbo, Huasco, and Copiapó.

The company expanded its routes in 1846 to include Huanchaco, Lambayeque, Paita, Guayaquil, Buenaventura, and Panama City. It gained a contract for British Government mail to posts in western South America in 1852.

Pacific Steam Navigation Company lost several ships in its early decades, including the Tacna, which exploded in 1874, killing 19 people. The Atacama ran aground in 1877, killing 102 people.

The company continued to lose ships at sea, with the Arequipa being wrecked in a gale in 1902, killing 63 people. The Santiago met a similar fate in 1907, killing 45 people.

In the First World War, ten of the company's ships were sunk, but at the relatively light cost of only 15 lives. The company's fleet suffered another significant loss in the Second World War, when a German submarine torpedoed the Pacific Steam passenger liner, Oropesa, killing 106 people.

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The Pacific Steam Navigation Company (PSNC) was formed in London in 1838.

PSNC started operations on the West Coast of South America in 1840, marking the beginning of its extensive fleet operations.

The company was granted the British Government Mail contract to the area in 1852, a significant milestone in its history.

In 1877, PSNC launched a joint service with the Orient Line to Australia, which lasted until 1905 when it sold its Australian route interests to the Royal Mail SP Company.

The Pacific Steam Navigation Company (PSNC) was formed in London in 1838. It marked the beginning of a long and storied history for the company.

PSNC commenced operations on the West Coast of South America in 1840. This was a significant milestone for the company.

In 1852, PSNC was granted the British Government Mail contract to the area. This contract brought a new level of prestige and responsibility to the company.

A joint PSNC-Orient Line service to Australia was started in 1877. This service lasted until 1905, when PSNC sold their Australian route interests to Royal Mail SP Company.

PSNC itself was taken over by Royal Mail SP Company in 1910, but continued to operate as a separate company within the group.

Our chartered ships have played a significant role in our fleet, allowing us to expand our operations and reach new markets.

The Albermarle, chartered from Shaw, Savill & Albion Line in 1950, was a key addition to our fleet, with a Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 3,364.

The ship was later transferred to Prince Line in 1957 and renamed the Scottish Prince, but its time with us was still an important chapter in our history.

The Walsingham, chartered from Johnston Warren Line in 1950, was another significant vessel, boasting a GRT of 3,343.

Interestingly, the Walsingham was later renamed back to Sycamore in 1957 when it reverted to its original owner, J-W Line.

Here's a brief summary of our chartered ships:

The White Star Line's fleet was known for its extensive routes, connecting major ports across the globe. The company operated routes that spanned multiple continents, making it a significant player in the shipping industry.

One of the earliest routes was established in 1843, connecting Valparaiso to Coastal Ports in Callao. This route remained operational until 1923.

In 1868, a new route was introduced, linking Liverpool to several ports in South America, including Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo. This route was later extended to include stops in Arica and Mollendo, and it remained in operation until at least 1870.

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Here's a list of some of the notable routes operated by the White Star Line:

The company also operated routes that connected the East and West coasts of South America, including a route that linked Valparaiso to Panama Canal.