COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 483111

Deep Sea and Freight Transportation

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

50companies1840–1997founding years48still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
1840
FoundedGroupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.FoundedGroupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
1851
FoundedNippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK)
1885
FoundedDr. August Oetker KGFoundedStinnes AG
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedCrowley Maritime Corporation
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedAttica Enterprises S.A.
1918
FoundedKawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.
1919
FoundedSeaboard Corporation
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedCargill, Incorporated
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedGroupe Bourbon S.A.
1948
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedThe Washington Companies
1964
FoundedOMI Corporation
1968
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedHanjin Shipping Co., Ltd.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAPL Limited
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedEvergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedStelmar Shipping Ltd.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company →
Defunct · founded 1840 · United Kingdom
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P & O) began as a shipping company.
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company →
Defunct · founded 1840 · United Kingdom
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P & O) began as a shipping company.
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. →
Active · founded 1851 · France
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. →
Active · founded 1851 · France
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. →
Active · founded 1851 · France
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. →
Active · founded 1851 · France
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
China Merchants International Holdings Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1872 · Hong Kong
China Merchants International Holdings Co., Ltd.
China Merchants International Holdings Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1872 · Hong Kong
China Merchants International Holdings Co., Ltd.
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) →
Active · founded 1885 · Japan
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) is the largest marine transporter in Japan.
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) →
Active · founded 1885 · Japan
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) is the largest marine transporter in Japan.
Dr. August Oetker KG →
Active · founded 1902 · Germany
Dr.
Dr. August Oetker KG →
Active · founded 1902 · Germany
Dr.
Stinnes AG →
Active · founded 1902 · Germany
Following its acquisition in 2002 by rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG, Stinnes AG has been repositioned as the lead…
Stinnes AG →
Active · founded 1902 · Germany
Following its acquisition in 2002 by rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG, Stinnes AG has been repositioned as the lead…
A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S →
Active · founded 1904 · Denmark
A.P.
A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S →
Active · founded 1904 · Denmark
A.P.
Crowley Maritime Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
Crowley Maritime Corporation is the largest operator of tugboats and barges in the world.
Crowley Maritime Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
Crowley Maritime Corporation is the largest operator of tugboats and barges in the world.
Attica Enterprises S.A. →
Active · founded 1918 · Greece
Greece's Attica Enterprises S.A.
Attica Enterprises S.A. →
Active · founded 1918 · Greece
Greece's Attica Enterprises S.A.
Panalpina World Transport (Holding) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1918 · Switzerland
1930s:Panalpina acquires Hans im Obersteg and expands into maritime shipping and international forwarding.
Panalpina World Transport (Holding) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1918 · Switzerland
1930s:Panalpina acquires Hans im Obersteg and expands into maritime shipping and international forwarding.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Japan
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Japan
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.
Seaboard Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
1960s-70s:Company builds flour mills in eastern and southeastern United States.
Seaboard Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
1960s-70s:Company builds flour mills in eastern and southeastern United States.
Cargill, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1936
Cargill, Incorporated is the largest private corporation in the United States.
Cargill, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1936
Cargill, Incorporated is the largest private corporation in the United States.
Nippon Express Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
Nippon Express Company, Ltd., is one of Japan's largest transportation companies, with nearly 1,170 service centers in…
Nippon Express Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
Nippon Express Company, Ltd., is one of Japan's largest transportation companies, with nearly 1,170 service centers in…
Groupe Bourbon S.A. →
Active · founded 1948 · France
Former sugar cane producer Groupe Bourbon S.A.
Groupe Bourbon S.A. →
Active · founded 1948 · France
Former sugar cane producer Groupe Bourbon S.A.
The Washington Companies →
Active · founded 1964
The Washington Companies is an association of distinct business entities owned by Dennis R.
The Washington Companies →
Active · founded 1964
The Washington Companies is an association of distinct business entities owned by Dennis R.
Neptune Orient Lines Limited →
Active · founded 1968 · 119962 Singapore
Neptune Orient Lines Limited (NOL, or NOL Group) ranks among the world's top five shipping companies and is the largest…
Neptune Orient Lines Limited →
Active · founded 1968 · 119962 Singapore
Neptune Orient Lines Limited (NOL, or NOL Group) ranks among the world's top five shipping companies and is the largest…
OMI Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Although OMI returned to profitability, recording net earnings of $3.4 million in 1996 and $19.8 million in 1997,…
OMI Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Although OMI returned to profitability, recording net earnings of $3.4 million in 1996 and $19.8 million in 1997,…
Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1977 · South Korea
Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd., a Korean global carrier, was established in 1977 by its family-run parent conglomerate, the…
Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1977 · South Korea
Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd., a Korean global carrier, was established in 1977 by its family-run parent conglomerate, the…
APL Limited →
Active · founded 1983
APL Limited, formerly called the American President Companies Ltd., operates container shipping services by container…
APL Limited →
Active · founded 1983
APL Limited, formerly called the American President Companies Ltd., operates container shipping services by container…
Celadon Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Celadon Group Inc.
Celadon Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Celadon Group Inc.
Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Taiwan
With more than 130 owned and long-term chartered ships, Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Taiwan
With more than 130 owned and long-term chartered ships, Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
Stelmar Shipping Ltd. →
Active · founded 1992 · Greece
Stelmar Shipping Ltd.
Stelmar Shipping Ltd. →
Active · founded 1992 · Greece
Stelmar Shipping Ltd.
General Maritime Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
General Maritime kept its expenses low.
General Maritime Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
General Maritime kept its expenses low.
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