COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 4491

Marine Cargo Handling

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

12companies1822–1991founding years9still active3no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGroupe Bolloré
1822
FoundedThe Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
1840
1869
EconomyThe Suez Canal opens, reshaping global shipping.
FoundedNippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK)
1885
FoundedAlexander & Baldwin, Inc.
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedGroupe Bourbon S.A.
1948
FoundedStevedoring Services of America Inc.
1949
FoundedGrupo TMM, S.A. de C.V.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedSea Containers Ltd.
1965
FoundedKoninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.
1970
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAPL Limited
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedEvergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
1987
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedTrailer Bridge, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Groupe Bolloré →
Active · founded 1822 · France
Groupe Bolloré is a diversified industrial conglomerate with leadership status in most of its operating areas.
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company →
Defunct · founded 1840 · United Kingdom
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P & O) began as a shipping company.
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) →
Active · founded 1885 · Japan
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) is the largest marine transporter in Japan.
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., one of the original 'Big Five' Hawaiian companies, is a diversified corporation with…
Groupe Bourbon S.A. →
Active · founded 1948 · France
Former sugar cane producer Groupe Bourbon S.A.
Stevedoring Services of America Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
One of the largest stevedoring companies in the world, Stevedoring Services of America Inc.
Grupo TMM, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1958 · Mexico
Grupo TMM, S.A.
Sea Containers Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1965 · United Kingdom
Sea Containers Ltd.
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V. →
Defunct · founded 1970 · Netherlands
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.
APL Limited →
Active · founded 1983
APL Limited, formerly called the American President Companies Ltd., operates container shipping services by container…
Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Taiwan
With more than 130 owned and long-term chartered ships, Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
Trailer Bridge, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Jacksonville, Florida-headquartered Trailer Bridge, Inc., describes itself as "an integrated trucking and marine…
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