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Cunard-White Star Line Ltd, was a British shipping line which existed between 1934 and 1949.
In 1947, Cunard acquired White Star’s 38% share in the company and on 31 December 1949 the company had dropped the White Star name and was renamed ''Cunard Line''. Both the Cunard and White Star house flags were flown on the company's liners at the time of the merger and thereafter. However, the Cunard flag was flown over the White Star flag on the last two White Star liners, and . ''Georgic'' was scrapped in 1956, while ''Britannic'' made the final Liverpool–New York crossing of any White Star vessel from New York on 25 November 1960, and returned to Liverpool for the final time before sailing under her own power to the ship breakers. She was the last White Star liner in existence, leaving the passenger tender , which was also owned by the company until 1934, as the last White Star Line ship afloat.
Despite this, all Cunard Line ships flew both the Cunard and White Star Line house flags on their masts until late 1968. This was most likely because ''Nomadic'' remained in service with Cunard until 4 November 1968, and was sent to the breakers' yard, only to be bought for use as a floating restaurant. After this, the White Star flag was no longer flown, the White Star name was removed from Cunard operations and all remnants of both White Star Line and Cunard-White Star Line were retired. Cunard operated as a separate entity until 1972, when it was acquired by Trafalgar House, a British industrial and shipping conglomerate. After Trafalgar house was acquired by
Cunard White Star History and Ephemera
GG Archives {{Authority control Cunard Line White Star Line Transport companies established in 1934 Transport companies disestablished in 1949 Defunct cruise lines Packet trade Defunct shipping companies of the United Kingdom Transatlantic shipping companies 1934 establishments in England 1949 disestablishments in England 1949 mergers and acquisitions British companies disestablished in 1949 British companies established in 1934 Defunct companies based in Liverpool
History
The company was created to control the joint shipping assets of theCunard Line
The Cunard Line ( ) is a British shipping and an international cruise line based at Carnival House at Southampton, England, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. Since 2011, Cunard and its four ships have been r ...
and the White Star Line
The White Star Line was a British shipping line. Founded out of the remains of a defunct Packet trade, packet company, it gradually grew to become one of the most prominent shipping companies in the world, providing passenger and cargo service ...
after both companies experienced financial difficulties during the Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
. Cunard White Star controlled a total of twenty-five ocean liner
An ocean liner is a type of passenger ship primarily used for transportation across seas or oceans. Ocean liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes (such as for pleasure cruises or as hospital ships). The ...
s (with Cunard contributing fifteen ships and White Star ten). Both Cunard and White Star were in dire financial trouble, and were looking to complete enormous liners: White Star had Hull 844 – – and Cunard had Hull 534, which would later become . In 1933, the British government agreed to provide assistance to the two competitors on the condition that they merge their North Atlantic operations. The agreement was completed on 30 December 1933, and the merger officially took place on 10 May 1934, resulting in the formation of Cunard-White Star Limited. Under the terms of the merger, Cunard contributed fifteen ships and White Star ten, giving the new company a fleet of twenty-five ocean liners. Ownership of the new company reflected the respective financial positions of the two lines: Cunard shareholders held a 62% stake, while 38% was allocated to White Star’s creditors. In keeping with the heritage of both lines, White Star ships flew the White Star flag above the Cunard flag, while Cunard ships flew the Cunard flag above the White Star flag.
Being in a better financial and operating state than White Star, Cunard began absorbing White Star assets and as a result, most of the White Star vessels were quickly disposed of or sent to the shipbreakers. White Star's Australia and New Zealand service ships were transferred to the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line in 1934 and was retired and sold for scrap the following year, along with Cunard's . White Star's flagship , the largest ship in the world until the completion of SS ''Normandie'' in 1935, was sold in 1936.
In 1947, Cunard acquired White Star’s 38% share in the company and on 31 December 1949 the company had dropped the White Star name and was renamed ''Cunard Line''. Both the Cunard and White Star house flags were flown on the company's liners at the time of the merger and thereafter. However, the Cunard flag was flown over the White Star flag on the last two White Star liners, and . ''Georgic'' was scrapped in 1956, while ''Britannic'' made the final Liverpool–New York crossing of any White Star vessel from New York on 25 November 1960, and returned to Liverpool for the final time before sailing under her own power to the ship breakers. She was the last White Star liner in existence, leaving the passenger tender , which was also owned by the company until 1934, as the last White Star Line ship afloat.
Despite this, all Cunard Line ships flew both the Cunard and White Star Line house flags on their masts until late 1968. This was most likely because ''Nomadic'' remained in service with Cunard until 4 November 1968, and was sent to the breakers' yard, only to be bought for use as a floating restaurant. After this, the White Star flag was no longer flown, the White Star name was removed from Cunard operations and all remnants of both White Star Line and Cunard-White Star Line were retired. Cunard operated as a separate entity until 1972, when it was acquired by Trafalgar House, a British industrial and shipping conglomerate. After Trafalgar house was acquired by Kværner
Kværner was a Norwegian engineering and construction services company that existed between 1853 and 2005.
During its initial decades, the firm was involved in the manufacture of cast iron stoves and hydroelectric turbines. The turbine busi ...
Cunard was put up for sale and by 1999 had been purchased by Carnival Corporation
Carnival (known as Shrovetide in certain localities) is a festive season that occurs at the close of the Christian pre-Lenten period, consisting of Quinquagesima or Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras.
Carnival typi ...
.
Fleet
References
Works cited
* * *External links
Cunard White Star History and Ephemera
GG Archives {{Authority control Cunard Line White Star Line Transport companies established in 1934 Transport companies disestablished in 1949 Defunct cruise lines Packet trade Defunct shipping companies of the United Kingdom Transatlantic shipping companies 1934 establishments in England 1949 disestablishments in England 1949 mergers and acquisitions British companies disestablished in 1949 British companies established in 1934 Defunct companies based in Liverpool