Since the merger the P&O
Group has expanded as a result of natural growth and acquisition.
The company's partners in Overseas Containers were bought
out, and the property and harbour group European Ferries was
purchased as was the Australian cruise line, Sitmar. The Group
also acquired the short-sea operator Rowbotham Tankships and
most of Trafalgar House's Ellerman group container shipping
interests. In Europe the company owns the German haulage,
barge and storage group Rhenania and in 1992 P&O Asia
was established to develop activities around the Western Pacific
Rim and to acquire interests in Chinese container terminals.
However, in 1993 the company sold Sutcliffe Services, Sterling
Securities, Spring Grove Services, Buck & Hickman and
in 1999 its Bovis Construction group was disposed of.
Cruising activities continue
to flourish and the 1990's saw the new super cruise ships
Royal Princess, Grand Princess and Arcadia join the fleet
and the dawning of the new Millennium saw the arrival of P&O's
latest cruise ship the Aurora. Named after the goddess of
the the dawn, the Aurora promises a new and exciting chapter
in British cruising.
It is 163 years since
the tiny, 933 ton, Don Juan sailed from Falmouth bound for
the Iberian peninsular with its first cargo of mail. Since
that day P&O has grown from strength to strength and continues
to do so, keeping pace with the changing facets of maritime
commerce. Arthur Anderson, Brodie Willcox and Richard Bourne
would, without doubt, be surprised at the size and diversity
of their Company today, but they would also be pleased that
it continues to flourish under the same name and the same
quartered house flag that they knew.
Sir Donald F Anderson
Chairman 1960-1971
Oil by Derek Hill,1970
(P&O Lines)
Ford Irvine Geddes
Chairman 1971-1973
Oil by Michael Noakes.1969
(Equitable Life Assurance)
Third Earl of Inchcape
Chairman 1973-1983
Oil by Douglas Anderson, 1983
(P&O Lines)
Lord Sterling
Chairman 1983-
(P&O Lines)
The Aurora before her maiden voyage on 1st May 2000 (Daily
Express)
For a more in depth
history of P&O the following books are available:- The P&O Line
by Carola Ingall P&O
by David L. Williams
For more information
about P&O and the services that they provide visit:- www.p-and-o.com
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