Black Ball Line (trans-Atlantic packet)
The Black Ball Line of CH Marshall & Co. was the first cruise line that offered passage across the Atlantic regularly. The flag of the company showed a black ball on a red background.
The idea
The idea to launch ships to reliable times, went back to the textile importer Benjamin Marshall. In October 1817 the first schedule was designed. He foresaw that on the 5th of the month a ship in New York and on the 1st of the month should one start in Liverpool. The service was quickly expanded. The ships of the Black Ball Line went from 1818 onwards each twice a month from New York, and later also from Boston and Philadelphia to Liverpool from. The departure times of the Black Ball Line ships finally given the full post rhythm of the United States with Europe.
Operation
The company, based in New York and directed by Isaac Wright and son, Francis Thompson, Benjamin Marshall and Jeremiah Thompson, of whom were Quakers, started operations with the cargo ship James Monroe, the Pacific, the Amity and the Courier. Quickly developed on the east coast a competition, because the concept of reliable departure times of their clientele was well received. The first shipping company, which took the concept of the Black Ball Line, was 1821, the Red Star Line.
The first four ships were all about 400 gross register tons. Soon the fleet was expanded; the next ships were usually larger. Within a short time the ships New York, Eagle, Orbit, Nestor, James Cropper, William Thompson, Albion, Canada, Britannia and Columbia were added, among other things.
The first voyages to the new schedule of 1818 completed the Courier, which was launched in Liverpool on 1 January, and James Monroe, who drove off in New York on January 5. She arrived in Liverpool on February 2. On average, the ships of the Black Ball Line needed in the first year 25 days to the east and 43 days in a westerly direction.
The travel times were halved by the introduction of steam navigation. In the 1860s, over 80 % of all emigrants used steamships; the era of the great sailing ships and their shipping was over. The Black Ball Line was able to hold until 1878. As the last of the old companies, the Red Swallowtail Line 1880 gave up.