Pacific Steam Navigation Company on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Pacific Steam Navigation Company ( es, Compañía de Vapores del Pacífico, links=no) was a British commercial shipping company that operated along the Pacific coast of South America, and was the first to use steam ships for commercial traffic in the Pacific Ocean.
The company was founded by 
In 1905 the company sold its London – Sydney route to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which bought the entire company in 1910. Pacific Steam continued to lose ships at sea. In 1902 was wrecked in a gale, killing 63 people. In 1907
met a similar fate, killing 45 people. In 1911 ran aground, killing 60 people.
In the First World War ten of the company's ships were sunk, but at the relatively light cost of only 15 lives. In the Second World War a German submarine torpedoed a Pacific Steam passenger liner, , sinking her and killing 106 people.
RMSP's name and routes were retained until
RMS Oroya Passenger List of the Pacific Line (PSNC) - 22 January 1925
GG Archives Transport companies established in 1838 Defunct companies of Chile Defunct shipping companies of the United Kingdom Multinational companies Shipping companies of Peru Shipping companies of Chile Shipping companies of England 1838 establishments in the United Kingdom British companies established in 1838 {{Chile-company-stub
The Pacific Steam Navigation Company ( es, Compañía de Vapores del Pacífico, links=no) was a British commercial shipping company that operated along the Pacific coast of South America, and was the first to use steam ships for commercial traffic in the Pacific Ocean.
History
The company was founded by William Wheelwright
William Wheelwright (March 18, 1798 – September 26, 1873) was a businessman who played an essential role in the development of steamboat and train transportation in Chile and other parts of South America. In 1838, with help from the Chilean ...
in London in 1838 and began operations in 1840 when two steam ships ''Chile'' and ''Peru'' were commissioned to carry mail. Early ports of call were Valparaíso
Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...
, Coquimbo, Huasco
Huasco () is a Chilean city and commune, in the Huasco Province, Atacama Region.
The port city of Huasco is located 50 km west of Vallenar and close to the town of ''Huasco Bajo'', which lies on the southern bank of the Huasco River and onl ...
, Copiapó
Copiapó () is a city and commune in northern Chile, located about 65 kilometers east of the coastal town of Caldera. Founded on December 8, 1744, it is the capital of Copiapó Province and Atacama Region.
Copiapó lies about 800 km north ...
, Cobija
Cobija is a city in Bolivia, capital of the department of Pando, is located about 600 km (373 mi.) north of La Paz in the Amazon Basin on the border with Brazil. Cobija lies on the banks of the Rio Acre across from the Brazilian ci ...
, Iquique, Arica, Islay
Islay ( ; gd, Ìle, sco, Ila) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll just south west of Jura, Scotland, Jura and around north of the Northern Irish coast. The isl ...
, Pisco and Callao
Callao () is a Peruvian seaside city and Regions of Peru, region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Peru's chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists o ...
. In 1846 the company expanded its routes to include Huanchaco
Huanchaco is a popular seaside resort city in province of Trujillo, Peru. Huanchaco is known for its surf breaks, its caballitos de totora and its ceviche, and is near the ancient ruins of Chan Chan. Huanchaco was approved as a World Surfing Res ...
, Lambayeque, Paita
Paita is a city in northwestern Peru. It is the capital of the Paita Province which is in the Piura Region. It is a leading seaport in the region. Paita is located 1,089 km northwest of the country's capital Lima, and 57 km northwest of ...
, Guayaquil
, motto = Por Guayaquil Independiente en, For Independent Guayaquil
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Ecuador#South America
, pushpin_re ...
, Buenaventura and Panama City
Panama City ( es, Ciudad de Panamá, links=no; ), also known as Panama (or Panamá in Spanish), is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has an urban population of 880,691, with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area. The city is locat ...
.
In 1852 the company gained a contract for British Government mail to posts in western South America. Two direct routes were also established - Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
to Callao in 1868 and London to Sydney in 1877. In common with its contemporaries, the company lost a number of ships in its early decades. They included , which exploded in 1874 killing 19 people, and , which ran aground in 1877 killing 102 people.
In 1905 the company sold its London – Sydney route to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which bought the entire company in 1910. Pacific Steam continued to lose ships at sea. In 1902 was wrecked in a gale, killing 63 people. In 1907
met a similar fate, killing 45 people. In 1911 ran aground, killing 60 people.
In the First World War ten of the company's ships were sunk, but at the relatively light cost of only 15 lives. In the Second World War a German submarine torpedoed a Pacific Steam passenger liner, , sinking her and killing 106 people.
RMSP's name and routes were retained until Furness Withy
Furness Withy was a major British transport business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange.
History
The company was founded by Christopher Furness and Henry Withy (1852–1922) in 1891 in Hartlepool. This was achieved by the amalgamatio ...
bought Royal Mail in 1965. Following the purchase the separate Pacific Steam Navigation Company structure was abolished and the vessels rebranded, effectively signalling the end of the Company.
In 1919, the company began a house magazine called ''Sea Breezes
A sea breeze or onshore breeze is any wind that blows from a large body of water toward or onto a landmass; it develops due to differences in air pressure created by the differing heat capacity, heat capacities of water and dry land. As such, ...
''. The journal outlived the company and it still exists, with a focus on international shipping matters.
Routes
See also
* MV Reina del PacificoReferences
External links
RMS Oroya Passenger List of the Pacific Line (PSNC) - 22 January 1925
GG Archives Transport companies established in 1838 Defunct companies of Chile Defunct shipping companies of the United Kingdom Multinational companies Shipping companies of Peru Shipping companies of Chile Shipping companies of England 1838 establishments in the United Kingdom British companies established in 1838 {{Chile-company-stub