Liverpool Steam Ship Owners' Association

Scope and Content

The archive consists of two main series: a set of minute books, 1922-1929, and an Association publication, 1894.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Liverpool Steam Ship Owners' Association (LSSOA) was, along with the Shipping Federation, the major body representing ship owners' interests in this country. It was made up of members representing all of the major Liverpool shipping companies - including Cunard, White Star and the Anchor line.

Often noted for its independence, the Association nevertheless worked successfully with the Federation in drawing up a draft proposal for the National Maritime Board (see MSS.367/NMB), whilst also providing the NMB with several chairmen and secretaries. The organisation was also seen to work closely with the Chamber of Shipping, with whom it convened the General Council of British Shipping (MSS.367/GCB). This body concerned itself with general issues of importance to the shipping industry. However, the industry changed so much that by 1963 it was felt that a more productive approach would be to have a single organisation representing shipowners' interests. As a result, the General Council was dissolved, and later that year the Liverpool Association became a full member of the Chamber of Shipping.

References: L.H. Powell 'The Shipping Federation: A History of the First Sixty Years, 1890-1950', London, 1950; 'Chamber of Shipping Annual Report 1963-1964' (MSS.367/COS/1/4/48).

Access Information

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Other Finding Aids

Custodial History

The archive was deposited by the Chamber of Shipping in December 1995, as part of the larger British Shipping Federation deposit.