| 1853 | Alfred Holt buys his first ship |
| 1864 | The company begins regular sailings between Liverpool and
China |
| 1891 | A Dutch subsidiary company, Nederlandsche Stoomboot
Maatschappij `Ocean`, is formed to compete with Dutch companies
serving the Far East |
| 1901 | Direct sailings between the UK and Australia begin |
| 1902 | The company buys the China Mutual Steam Navigation Company, one
of their major competitors in Far East trade |
| 1914 | The opening of the Panama Canal (Central America) allows the
company to begin a round-the-world service |
| 1935 | The company takes over Glen Line Shipping Company, following
the collapse of Royal Mail group |
| 1946 | 41 ships were lost during the war. The company builds eight
turbine passenger steamers to begin the replacement process |
| 1972 | The company acquires William Cory and Son and changes its name
to `Ocean Transport and Trading Company Ltd` |
| 1980 | The last true Blue Funnel container cargo ships are
delivered |
| 1989 | The last Blue Funnel ship, Nestor is sold |
