For more than a century Blue Funnel ships, managed from Liverpool by Alfred Holt and Company, held a unique place in Britain's shipping industry. Starting as pioneers of cargo liners between Liverpool and the Far East in 1866, the Company maintained a fine reputation built on its vessels, crews, shore staff, and management. This book traces the origins and evolution of the Line, charting its history through both world wars, its experiences in the great depression of the 1930s, and its vigorous response to the challenge of containerisation in the 1960s. Integrated into the text are discussions of the current roles of agencies and conferences, the singular management structure, and assessments of the parts played by key individuals.

Preface - Introduction: Ocean to Ocean - A Unique Style of Management - Sailings and Services - Representatives Abroad - Eastward Ho! The Beginnings of Ocean Steam Ship - Combined Efforts: Holts and the Conference System - The New Century: Profits and Perils - After the War: An Uncertain World - The Thirties: Collapse and Revival - The Company at War - Picking Up the Pieces - Into the Sixties: Calm Before the Storm - Organising a Group - Blue Funnel Contained: New Ships and New Enterprises - Epilogue - Sources and Bibliography - Appendices - Index