Contship Containerlines

Contship Containerlines was a global container carrier operating from 1969 to 2005 in the India/Pakistan, Levant, Australia/New Zealand, South America and Asia trade, mainly to and from Europe.

The company was founded just as containerization was beginning and continuously grew up with the growth of this market.

In 1968 Dr. Angelo Ravano founded Contship SA in Switzerland. The company's first sailing was undertaken by the M.V. Sea Maid from Fos to Casablanca in October 1969.

During 1970 an agency arm was set up in Milan and terminal operations were started at La Spezia. Some 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) were handled in the first year. The following years saw the seeds grow quickly and a European network with subsidiaries in Spain and the Netherlands in 1973 and 1974 were built up. The transfer of the agency representation in Milan to Genoa in 1974 was accompanied by the expansion of the service portfolio to eastern Mediterranean ports. In 1976 Ellerman City Liners appointed Contship's agency arm in Portugal.

1977 two important steps were made with the formation of a UK subsidiary and the launch of the first direct container service between Europe and India. This move reflected the ambitions to become a significant player on key routes. In becoming the first shipping line to handle containers in Bombay (now Mumbai), the die was cast for a pioneering approach to container shipping. More experience of working partnerships was gained from 1979 through the formation of the Contship Gulf Line as a joint service agreement with Ellerman City Lines - a new service that linked Europe with the Near East.

In the second decade, the company's development quickened apace. In moving their headquarters from Switzerland to Felixstowe and then Ipswich, Contship became a firm part of the UK's shipping establishment. The early 80s saw Contship expanding and widening their interests. In Spain, they won the agency representation for Trans Freight Lines. In the UK, they shared in the setting up of Arrowfreight, a freight forwarding operation. Meanwhile, a group holding company was established in Curaçao. All simple steps in enhancing the company's international presence and reputation.

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