White Star Line, makers of the famous Titanic, was one of the well-known shipping companies of Liverpool, which had earned a great repute for itself in its hay-days.
The White Star Line or Oceanic Steam Navigation Company was a renowned shipping company established in the year 1845 at Liverpool. The owners were Henry Wilson and John Pilkington. Until 1895, the main office of the White Star Line Company was established at 10, Water Street but in 1896, the office was shifted to the nearby area at 30, James Street.
Initial Days of White Star Line
In the initial years, the company mainly focused on the Australian trade, which was flourishing due to the discovery of gold in the area. Most of the ships of White Star Line Company were used to carry on this gold trading. The company, at this point of time, did not buy any ship. It rather rented their ships and the first ship, which was bought by the company, was the 879-tonne 'Iowa'.
Oriental Steam Navigation Company Limited
The biggest competitor of White Star Line at this point was Black Ball Line; though they initially had a fierce rivalry they eventually entered into a peace treaty among themselves and started leasing ships to each other. In order to expand its flourishing business, White Star Line merged with Black Ball and Eagle Line and formed a new association called Liverpool, Melbourne and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Limited. The endeavor was not successful and White Star Line soon withdrew from this association and started operating its own ship, Royal Standard on the Liverpool to New
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York sea route.
Downfall of White Star Line
After few years, White Star Line clipper ships could not compete with the non-wind dependant ships of Samuel Cunard's company and White Star Line was overtaken by Thomas Henry Ismay. Soon after this merger, the White Star Line Company flourished to a great extent and Ismay established the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company with one of his friends. However, in the year 1934, Samuel Cunard finally bought the shares of White Star Line and the old ships were sold as scrap materials. The head office was shifted from the old building in Liverpool to Cunard's own offices.
Well-known ships of the White Star Line
Some of the well-known ships of the White Star Line Company include:
- Atlantic
- Republic
- Adriatic
- Teutonic
- Britannic
- Titanic
- Baltic
- Nomadic
- Teutonic
- Majestic
Apart from these, the company has also produced several other ships.
Though the White Star Line Company is no more existent, the ships are now operated under the label of Cunard Line.
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