P&O ships have been sailing for over 180 years, and how times have changed! There have been plenty of amazing moments and challenging periods along the way, but the company has always adapted in order to be stronger than ever.
In this blog post, we’re travelling back in time with P&O Heritage to see P&O in 1910, and discovering what the company was doing then compared to its role today.
P&O in 1910
Back in 1910, P&O was responsible for transporting all-important mail and an assortment of high value goods from the UK to European ports and other far flung destinations, including India, Australia, and the Far East. At this time, the company had 60 steamships, and 52 tenders and tugs, and they travelled 3 million nautical miles between them in 1910. In addition to moving goods, such as silk and increasingly popular soya beans, P&O’s ships would carry 1st and 2nd class passengers, tourist travellers in the summer months and emigrants in search of a new life in Australia.
Even as far back as 1910, P&O’s chairman, Sir Thomas Sutherland was determined to ensure that the company didn’t become ‘old-fashioned’ and continued to innovate. There was always a finger on the pulse to make sure that they remained current when it came to passenger benefits and new technologies, such as wireless communication which enabled ships to communicate with each other.
P&O Ferries today
These days, P&O Ferries may not travel to the other side of the world, but we do still offer integral routes between the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe. The services provided allow for the movement of goods, such as food and medicine, between these destinations, and give holiday makers the chance to enjoy uninterrupted sea views as they travel too. We also continue to keep evolving with the times, and are looking forward to launching our brand new Dover to Calais ships in the future. These ships will be more eco-friendly than our current fleet, thanks to a whole range of fantastic, innovative features, and will offer plenty of space to stretch your legs and explore!
To find out more about P&O in 1910, take a look at P&O Heritage’s informative ‘P&O in 1910 – A Decade in Time’ exhibition’ where you can discover fascinating stories and see fantastic pictures from the past.
