Category: Canadian Pacific Line

Categories: Canadian Pacific Railway | Canadian Ships | Passenger Lines

In the early 1880s, the Canadian Pacific Railway negotiated with the Government of the United Kingdom to establish a trans-Pacific steamship routes between Vancouver and the Far East.

In 1887, Canadian Pacific initiated an ocean-going service between Vancouver, British Columbia and Hong Kong, with calls at Japan and China, and later at Manila, Philippine Islands and Honolulu, Hawaii. This service provided a link for the CPR's transcontinental railroad passenger and freight services. Passengers could travel from England to Eastern Canada, travel across the railway to Vancouver, and on to Asian destinations.

In 1891, CPR adopted a new name — the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company (CPSC).

In 1903, the company began operating ships on the Atlantic between Halifax, Nova Scotia and the United Kingdom. CP transported many immigrants from Europe to Canada, primarily from Great Britain and Scandinavia.

In 1915, CP changed the name of its shipping business to Canadian Pacific Steamships Ocean Services Ltd.

Canadian Pacific was an important contributor to the Merchant Navy (United Kingdom) in World War I. Like other shipping companies, Canadian Pacific provided ships to carry troops in both World Wars. CP lost 18 ships in the war. Some ships were refitted as Armed merchantmen or auxiliary minelayers. These were operated by the British Royal Navy.

In 1917, CP acquired the successful Allan Line, and expanded to become a major international cargo carrier and operators of luxury passenger liners.

During World War II, the CP fleet carried over a million tons of cargo and a million troops and civilians. The Company lost twelve vessels due to enemy action; a larger loss than any Western company.

The company moved to a model of container shipping from passenger, freight and mail service in the 1960s due to competitive pressure from the airline industry. The company was spun out of Canadian Pacific Ltd. as a separate company in 2001. In 2005, it was purchased by TUI AG and is now part of the company's Hapag-Lloyd division.

Sources