COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 48831

Port and Harbor Operations

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

11companies1840–1987founding years9still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
1840
FoundedPowell Duffryn plc
1864
FoundedStinnes AG
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedCrowley Maritime Corporation
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedSerco Group plc
1929
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedGrupo TMM, S.A. de C.V.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedThe Washington Companies
1964
FoundedThe Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
1970
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedHutchison Whampoa Limited
1977
FoundedAssociated British Ports Holdings Plc
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedEvergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
1987
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
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

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.
Powell Duffryn plc →
Renamed · founded 1864 · United Kingdom
Once nearly synonymous with the Welsh coal mining industry, Powell Duffryn plc has transformed itself into a…
Stinnes AG →
Active · founded 1902 · Germany
Following its acquisition in 2002 by rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG, Stinnes AG has been repositioned as the lead…
Crowley Maritime Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
Crowley Maritime Corporation is the largest operator of tugboats and barges in the world.
Serco Group plc →
Active · founded 1929 · United Kingdom
Serco Group plc provides facilities management and other engineering services for a variety of governmental and…
Grupo TMM, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1958 · Mexico
Grupo TMM, S.A.
The Washington Companies →
Active · founded 1964
The Washington Companies is an association of distinct business entities owned by Dennis R.
The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company →
Active · founded 1970 · United Kingdom
The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company is the United Kingdom's second largest port operator, controlling the Port of…
Hutchison Whampoa Limited →
Active · founded 1977 · Hong Kong
Mid-1970s:Hongkong & Shanghai Bank steps in to rescue the faltering Hutchison, taking a stake in excess of 20 percent.
Associated British Ports Holdings Plc →
Active · founded 1981 · United Kingdom
Associated British Ports Holdings Plc (ABPH) is the largest operator of seaports in the United Kingdom.
Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Taiwan
With more than 130 owned and long-term chartered ships, Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
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