International Navigation Company

The International Navigation Company ( INCO) was an American shipping company headquartered in Philadelphia. The company operated a liner service on the transatlantic route between North America and Europe.

History

1871, the International Navigation Company was founded in order to maintain a regular service from Philadelphia to Europe. An outward sign for ships of the company, or more precisely the direct subsidiaries was a black chimney with a white band, which was located in the upper third.

Since the main source of income was for shipping companies of the time, the transport of emigrants and those traveling from Europe to the U.S., the new company needed a representative office in Europe. The new company followed the example of other American shipping companies (eg Guion Line) and established a subsidiary to European soil. In 1872 the Societe Anonyme de Navigation Belge - Americaine SA, better known as Red Star Line, founded and headquartered in Antwerp. What was the reason exactly, are home to the new company in Belgium is not known, but the shipping company performed well and soon became New York the arrival ports in North America.

In 1884, the hapless American Line was bought, which also has a regular service to Europe maintained since 1872 by Philadelphia from, more to Liverpool. Inco was now represented by two lines in the transatlantic service, and the service began, at last, to make quite successful. In 1886, the financially troubled traditional British Inman Line was bought and as Inman & International Steamship Company Ltd.. (I & I) joined the growing Inco Empire. For this shipping company in 1888 and 1889, the two sister ships of the City of New York and City of Paris were built. Not only that, they were the then largest ships in the world with 10499 grt, but with more than 20 knots, it was the fastest. They were the only ships of the INCO who won the Blue Riband.

1893 allowed the U.S. Congress, by special law, which could be eingeflaggt in the U.S., the Inman - ships. The shipping company Inman & International S. S. Co. Ltd.. was dissolved and now transferred all their ships under the Stars and Stripes on the American Line. 1895 took the measured with 11629 grt sister ships St. Louis and St. Paul on the operation, both ships had to be built in U.S. shipyards, so that the Inman vessels were allowed to be eingeflaggt in the United States. This was a condition that had provided to the U.S. Congress. St. Louis and St. Paul should be for a long time the last great passenger ships have been delivered by a U.S. shipyard.

1900, the International Navigation Co. was bought by the U.S. banking magnate JP Morgan, the plan was to build a monopoly in transatlantic shipping. Morgan added to his rapidly growing empire in a short time add such a prestigious shipping companies such as the Atlantic Transport Line, Leyland Line, White Star Line and the Dominion Line. 1904, Inco was renamed to International Mercantile Marine Company ( IMMC ) and expanded to the holding company for all companies bought up by Morgan. The Inco itself was, but practically dissolved, her daughter shipowners Red Star Line and American Line passed under IMMC - directed continuing further.

Ships ( American Line )

• Former shipping company (United States)
• Company (Philadelphia )