Registered in 1856 as the Calcutta & Burmah Steam Navigation Co. and in 1862 became British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd. In 1886 B.I. took control of the Australian S.N. Co and their coastal services out of Brisbane. This became Australasian United S.N. Co. Apcar & Co, Calcutta with their fleet of five ships was taken over in 1912 and the five ships and the Australian company of Archibald Currie was absorbed in 1913.

B.I. and Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) merged in 1914 but each kept their seperate identities until 1971 when all ships came under the parent P & O company. Nourse Line was acquired by B.I. in 1917 but their ships retained their identities. In 1919 Strick Line was also taken over and in 1935 a controlling interest in Asiatic S.N. Co was purchased. British India Steam Navigation Co amalgamated with Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co in 1914. P&O became the 'parent' company.

In 1971 P&O S.N. Co was reorganised into divisions, General Cargo, Passenger and Bulk Handling. All ships of the group were progressively transferred to one of these divisions.

Thus the British India Steam Navigation Co. (British India Line) was another fine British shipping company that disappeared due to mergers and consolidation in the shipping industry and globalisation.