General Steam Navigation Company
Fact file
This fact file is a snapshot of the company between 1930
and 1945. Owners / Company name
General Steam Navigation Company Ltd [UK] Company flag Major routes
London - East Coast of England ports; Leith (Edinburgh); Bordeaux
(France) and Mediterranean ports Ship colours
Black hull with a horizontal white stripe. Black funnels with the
company flag appearing near the top. Timeline | 1824 | General Steam Navigation Company set up in Deptford Creek, East
London, making it one of the first commercial steamship
companies | | 1834 | General Steam Navigation Company wins the Post Office contract
to carry the mail by paddle-steamers from the Thames to Antwerp,
Rotterdam, Hamburg and other European ports | | 1876 | Pressure of foreign competition severely reduces the company`s
profits. The UK parliament solved the problem by allowing them to
increase their capital | | 1920 | General SN is bought by P&O but retained its identity | | 1930s | The company operates a regular passenger service from London`s
Tower Pier down river to Southend-on-Sea (Essex). With the Port of
London Authority it also runs tourist trips around the London Docks
system. | | 1960s | General SN fully merges into P&O and its name
disappers |
|
