Furness Withy Group
(Est. 1891)


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In 1878 Thomas and Christopher Furness commenced shipowning, in 1883 Christopher Furness purchased an interest in the shipyard of Edward Withy and in 1884 bought the company outright. In 1885 Christopher Furness collaborated with Thomas Wilson to form the Wilson-Furness Line to operate services between Newcastle and New York. By 1891 the fleet contained 18 ships and Furness, Withy & Co was founded. The first subsidiary company was formed in 1892 as the Chesapeake & Ohio Steamship Co. Ltd and a joint service to Boston was started with Frederick Leyland & Co. In 1896 the Wilsons & Furness-Leyland Line was formed. A new firm, Manchester Liners Ltd was formed in 1898 and the rights of the Canadian & Newfoundland SS Co, were acquired the same year. The Wilsons & Furness-Leyland Line with their London - New York service was sold in 1901 to the International Mercantile Marine Co., but in 1902 Furness, Withy purchased Gulf Line Ltd with their trade to South Africa and Australia. Management of Neptune S.N. Co. was taken over in 1906 and the fleet was purchased in 1910. The same year, Agincourt SS Co. and Norfolk & North American Steam Navigation Company were acquired. In 1911 a 50% holding in Houlder Bros & Co. was purchased plus the coastal London Welsh SS Co. 1912 saw the purchase of George Warren's White Diamond Steamship Company. and a new company, George Warren & Co. (Liverpool) Ltd was formed. A half share in Johnston Line was purchased in 1914 and in 1916 Prince Line Ltd was bought. By this time the Furness, Withy group owned 215 ships.

Rio Cape Line was formed in 1917 and Bermuda & West Indies Steamship Company. in 1921. In 1922 Warren Line Ltd was formed and London Welsh Co. was sold to Coast Lines Ltd. 1928 saw a share in Cairn Line purchased and in 1929 Gulf Line was placed in voluntary liquidation and their ships transferred to Bermuda & West Indies SS Co. The same year Bowring’s Red Cross Line was taken over.

On the collapse of the Kylsant shipping empire, Furness, Withy obtained control of Shaw, Savill & Albion Line in 1933 and in 1934 Johnston-Warren Line was formed with the amalgamation of Johnston, Warren and Neptune Steam Navigation Company. A substantial holding in Royal Mail Lines was obtained in 1937 (the remaining shares were purchased in 1965) and in 1939 the management of Bowater SS Co was taken over. Full control of Houlder Bros was obtained in 1968 and Kaye, Son & Co acquired in 1973.

Furness, Withy & Co was sold to C. Y. Tung, Hong Kong in 1980 but the new owners gradually disposed of the ships and in 1990, the Tung group sold Furness, Withy (Shipping) Ltd to Rudolf A. Oetker who controlled Hamburg South America Line. In 1998 the name of the firm reverted to Furness, Withy & Co, Ltd and today has been merged within the Hamburg Sud Group. Thus Furness Withy ceased to exist as an independent company.

Thus the Furness Withy Group, one of Britain's great shipping groups, disappeared due to mergers and consolidation in the shipping industry and globalisation. It is truly the end of a glorious era.

Hamburg Sud Group
www.hamburgsud.com
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