Overseas Container Line
F1. Maritime HistoryDefinition
1965 British-formed early containership operator.
Overseas Containers Limited (OCL) was a British container-shipping consortium formed in 1965 by four lines: P&O, British and Commonwealth Shipping, Furness Withy, and Ocean Steam Ship Company. They pooled capital to fund the containerization of the UK and Europe to Australia and Far East trades, taking delivery of their first six cellular ships of about 27,000 GRT and 1,900 TEU in 1969 and 1970. P&O bought out the other partners and absorbed OCL in 1986.
Source: Overseas Containers Limited consortium founded 1965 (P&O, B&C, Furness Withy, Ocean SS); P&O takeover 1986.