Belfast Steamship Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Maritime transport |
| Predecessor | Liverpool and Belfast Steam Packet Company |
| Founded | 31 January 1852 |
| Fate | Integrated into P&O Ferries |
| Headquarters | Belfast , Ireland (later Northern Ireland) |
Area served | Belfast, Liverpool |
| Parent | Coast Lines (from 1919) |
The Belfast Steamship Company provided maritime transport services connecting Belfast in Ireland (subsequently Northern Ireland) with Liverpool in England from 1852 until 1975.
History
Originally established in 1824 under the name Liverpool and Belfast Steam Packet Company by Langtry & Herdman, the firm launched steamship operations between Liverpool and Belfast.
Among its initial fleet were:
- PS Chieftain (1826)
- PS Corsair (1827)
- PS Falcon (1835)
- PS Reindeer (1838)
- PS Sea-King (1845)
- PS Blenheim (1848)
The Dublin Steam Packet Company started weekly services around 1830, providing competition on this route. The business was officially incorporated as The Belfast Steamship Company Ltd on 31 January 1852. Growth continued through the acquisitions of the Cork Steamship Company in 1859 and the Londonderry Steamboat Company in 1866. In 1919, it became part of Coast Lines, which itself was integrated into P&O Ferries in 1975.