Union Steam Collier Co

1853 A steam collier company was formed, called the Southampton Steam Shipping Co, to bring coal from South Wales to Southampton for the large liner companies.

1853 Name changed to Union Steam Collier Co

1854 Their 5 ships were taken over as transports for the Crimean War.

1856 The ships were returned to the company but remained idle due to the large stocks of coal accumulated at Southampton.

The company made unsuccessful ventures into the UK-South America and Birkenhead-Hamburg routes

1857 Awarded the mail contract between the UK and South Africa.

1876 a joint mail contract with the Castle Line was granted by the Colonial Government with the proviso that the two companies did not amalgamate.

1881 15 July: the Castle Mail Packets Co was registered

At some point the name of Union Steam Collier Co was changed to Union Steamship Co

1899 The South African contract expired; after much political manoeuvering, the two companies merged to become the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co and received the new mail contract.

1900 From 1 January, the Castle Mail Packets Co amalgamated with the Union Steamship Co; on amalgamation the name was changed to Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co

See Also

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Sources of Information

• The Ships List [1]