of Liverpool and London
1913 Liverpool Shipping Co was formed by the merger of three Liverpool coaster companies - Powell Line, Bacon Line and Hough Line. It grew to be the largest coaster company in the world by 1939, acquiring c.60 other companies largely based around the West Coast of Britain. The names of its ships all ended in Coast.
1917 The name Coast Lines was adopted; it was acquired by Owen Cosby Philipps's Royal Mail group, remaining with them until the group's collapse in early 1930s.
1918 Acquired Laird Line
1920 Acquired G. and J. Burns
1935 Coast Lines became independent.
1943 Acquired Tyne-Tees Shipping Co
Post-war: the company began to decline.
1965 Part of the company was purchased by the Irish Government
1971 P & O purchased the rest of the company, put it together with long time rival General Steam Navigation Co to become the Short Sea Shipping Division.