| 1853 | Southampton Steam Shipping Company is created to bring coal from South Wales to Southampton for use by shipping companies operating liners. The company is quickly renamed Union Steamship Company |
| 1857 | Union SS Co is awarded a contract to carry mail between the UK and South Africa |
| 1862 | Donald Currie & Company founded to operate sailing ships to India |
| 1862 | Donald Currie & Company introduces steamships on its India route. A new passenger and mail service is introduced between the UK and South Africa, in competition with Union SS Co |
| 1876 | Donald Currie & Company is renamed Castle Mail Packet Co.
A new mail contract is awarded to Union SS and Castle Mail, providing that the two companies do not merge |
| 1899 | The South African mail contract expires |
| 1900 | Union SS Co and Castle Mail Packet Co merge to form the Union-Castle line. The new company receives the new UK - South Africa mail contract |
| 1912 | Royal Mail group takes control of the company |
| 1931 | Royal Mail group collapses in a financial scandal. It takes Union-Castle several years to recover and become an independent company again |
| 1956 | Union-Castle merges with Bullard King and Clan lines to form British & Commonwealth Shipping Company |
| 1973 | British & Commonwealth merges with South African Marine Corp. to become International Liner Services Ltd |
| 1965 | The company concentrates on its core UK - South Africa route, along with cruising and a UK - Africa cargo service |
| 1977 | After over a century of operation, the weekly Southampton - South Africa service is withdrawn |
| 1982 | International Liner Services withdraws from shipping after failing to compete with air travel |
