China Navigation Company

The China Navigation Company Limited
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Shipping
Predecessor	Union Steam Navigation Company, Coast Boats Ownery (merged)
Founded	January 1, 1872; 154 years ago in London, United Kingdom
Founder	John Samuel Swire, William Hudson Swire, James Henry Scott (partner from 1874)
Fate	Rebranded as Swire Shipping in October 2021
Successor	Swire Shipping Pte Ltd, Swire Bulk Pte Ltd
Headquarters	London (headquarters), Singapore (subsidiaries), United Kingdom (headquarters), Singapore (subsidiaries)
Area served	Asia-Pacific region including China, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islands
Products	Merchant shipping, liner services, dry bulk shipping, project cargo shipping
Owner	John Swire & Sons Limited
Parent	Swire Group
Website	www.swireshipping.com

The China Navigation Company Limited (CNCo), headquartered in London, serves as the holding entity for merchant shipping enterprises Swire Shipping Pte Ltd and Swire Bulk Pte Ltd, both located in Singapore. As a subsidiary of the Swire Group, CNCo is fully owned by John Swire & Sons Limited. Notably, Swire Shipping was previously identified as the China Navigation Company until its rebranding in October 2021.

1872–1945: Origins on the Yangtze River

Established in London in 1872 by John Samuel Swire, CNCo initially operated paddle steamer services along the Yangtze River. The company’s founding capital amounted to £360,000, contributed by John Samuel Swire, William Hudson Swire, and additional investors including the father of James Henry Scott from Scotts' Shipbuilding.

In 1873, John Swire and Sons (JS&S) commissioned three vessels dedicated to trade on the Lower Yangtze and acquired the Union Steam Navigation Company. This acquisition incorporated CNCo’s first two ships, Tunsin and Glengyle, as well as leases for properties in Shanghai and other key ports. Between 1873 and 1874, the paddle steamers Pekin, Shanghai, and Ichang were delivered from A & J Inglis. James Henry Scott became a partner in 1874, collaborating with JS&S to purchase two steamers, Fuchow and Swatow, which became foundational assets for the Coast Boats Ownery (CBO), responsible for managing coastal trade routes within China.

By the mid-1870s, CNCo expanded its operations to include trade along the Canton River and routes connecting Shanghai with Ningbo and Tianjin. The company encountered fierce competition and engaged in rate wars, leading to strategic pooling agreements with competitors amid a fluctuating shipping market.

By 1883, five steamships under Butterfield & Swire operating in South China were integrated into CNCo’s fleet. That same year, CBO merged with CNCo to form its Coastal Steamers division, thereby enlarging the fleet.

By 1894, CNCo operated a fleet of 29 vessels servicing an extensive network across Asia. Despite challenges such as political unrest and piracy in the Far East, CNCo sustained its operations throughout both World Wars. Initially concentrated on Yangtze River commerce, the company broadened its focus to encompass coastal and regional shipping routes by the late 19th century.

In 1939, CNCo commenced trade activities involving Papua New Guinea, which were suspended during World War II. In 1940, the British Government requisitioned CNCo’s fleet; nevertheless, operations continued from Bombay. By 1945, CNCo had resumed services in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The North China Coast and Yangtze River operations were managed from Shanghai, while activities along the South Coast, Canton trade routes, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines were coordinated from Hong Kong. During this period, shipping became Butterfield & Swire’s primary business focus.

1945–present: Post-World War II developments

In the 1950s, CNCo reinstated regional trading routes extending from Australia to Papua New Guinea and across the Pacific Islands.

Following World War II, the company was at the forefront of "unitisation" cargo handling techniques during the 1960s and subsequently embraced full containerisation. It diversified its portfolio by entering passenger cruising services and dry bulk shipping sectors; by the 1980s it expanded into Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) operations. The 1990s saw a consolidation of management functions in Sydney while New Zealand operations concentrated on investments through Tasman Asia and Tasman Orient Line.

In 2009, CNCo relocated its headquarters to Singapore, establishing The China Navigation Company Pte Limited as a subsidiary under its UK-registered parent company. Since this transition, global liner services and ship ownership have been administered from Singapore. The opening of its Singapore office in 2010 was marked by attendance from then-Minister Lim Hwee Hua.

The launch of Swire Bulk in 2012 created a dedicated division for dry bulk shipping; however, this segment was separated in 2021 to allow CNCo to focus exclusively on liner shipping and fleet management.

Expansion continued with the acquisition of New Zealand-based Pacifica Shipping in 2014. In 2020, CNCo introduced Swire Projects to specialize in project cargo shipping solutions.

The company underwent rebranding as Swire Shipping in 2021 and subsequently acquired US-based Westwood Shipping Lines in 2022.

Swire Shipping

MIHOS

Kokopo Chief

PACIFIC CLASS

Apia Chief
Kiribati Chief
Majuro Chief
Noumea Chief
Port Vila Chief
Samoa Chief
Tonga Chief
Vanuatu Chief

HERITAGE CLASS

Coral Chief
Highland Chief
New Guinea Chief
Papuan Chief

PNG CLASS

Carpenters Vega
Changsha
Moresby Chief
Rabaul Chief

FIJI CLASS

Honiara Chief
Lautoka Chief
Nadi Chief
Suva Chief

WESTWOOD

Westwood Columbia
Westwood Olympia
Westwood Rainier
Westwood Victoria

WEIHAI1300

Takutai Chief

CC9K

Aotearoa Chief

CV1700

Moana Chief

Swire Bulk

Hanyang
Hoihow
Hunan
Hupeh
Kaifong
Kansu
Kaying
Kian
Kiating
Kinling
Liangchow
Luenho
Pakhoi
Pekin
Powan
Poyang
Tatung
Tientsin
Tunsin

Significant former vessels

SS Anhui (3,494 GRT, constructed in 1925) was among three major ships delivering supplies to the Philippines from Australia early in the Pacific conflict, reaching Cebu City on 20 March 1942. Subsequently, it operated under U.S. Army jurisdiction as part of the Southwest Pacific Area fleet (X-6) until late 1945.
MV Anshun (1930)
MS Changsha
SS Hanyang (2,876 GRT, built 1940) provided early war support to the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies from Australia and served under U.S. Army command (X-8) until August 1945.
MV Eredine (decommissioned)
MV Erradale
SS Shengking
SS Shuntien (1934; lost due to enemy engagement)
MV Soochow (also referred to as Maersk Asia Decimo)
MS Taiyuan
SS Wang Phu
SS Wu Chang
MV Wulin
SS Yochow (2,810 GRT, built 1938) also contributed to early WWII supply efforts in the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies and was under U.S. Army control (X-7) until December 1945.

External links