|
ANNUAL REPORTS |
YEAR | COMMENTS | PICTURES AND NOTES | |||
 |
1968 |
This was the first annual report to be published after the company "went public". |
The Coldwrap container marked Sea Containers entry into the area of "Specials", although the company was already enjoying a reputation for innovation. An early money-spinner was the 3-in-one (three 6.7 "mini" containers fitting into a 20ft x 8ft base). SC was the first leasing company to embrace the 8ft6in high unit that ultimately became the industry standard. Containerships Ltd (the Scandinavian short-sea service we partly owned) continued to make losses, but the less obvious advantages of container employment and a basis for experimentation in containers, ships and cranes, were sufficient to encourage a projected expansion to a UK/Continent/Spain service. [Click here for pictures and additional notes] | |||
 |
1969 | First of the Hustler class Containerships - Minho - was being built. Shares were listed on the American Stock Exchange. | A vast newbuilding and new
management programme was introduced. In addition to the
introduction of a refrigerated tank container, and ventilated and side
door units, six Hustler class vessels were in construction and three
shoreside gantry cranes. The cranes were a joint development between our
own engineering department and the manufacturers Liebherr in Austria.
It was the year that Don Turner was made General Sales Manager, Arnault de Berc Operations Manager, and David Tingle Manager of Engineering. Our main office was moved from Old Jewry in the City of London to Mayfair's Park Street. During the year, too, Sea Containers withdrew from its interest in the Containerships Ltd service to Scandinavia. [Click here for pictures and additional notes] |
|||
| .
|
1970 | The major thrust of Corporate activities was in the development of dedicated container ships and cranes, while expanding the range of specialized containers. | Six Hustler class container
ships were delivered to bareboat charters in 1970, trading between
UK/north Continent, Spain, Portugal and Israel. Experience of
operating non-self-sustaining vessels on the short sea routes, to
smaller ports, reflected the need for a self-sustaining design, and the
first of the Tarros class vessels was under construction for delivery in
1971.
A further offshoot of this philosophy was reflected in the design and construction of a range of lightweight, easily erected and dismountable, shoreside gantry cranes. The first two of these, christened Tango, were installed at Lisbon and Oporto, making Portugal the obvious venue for the first Sea Containers worldwide agents' conference. This marked the first of our regular biennial agents' conferences, usually located where a development significant to Sea Containers had taken place- or was about to occur. [Click here for pictures and additional notes] |
|||
 |
1971 | The Tarros class of container ship is successfully introduced. This represents a quantum leap in self-sustainability over the Hustler. | ||||
 |
1972 | Plans for new class of vessel: the Deckship announced. First Shifter container depot handling machine is built. | ||||
 |
1973 | Tarros class provides first containership services to several areas. Sea Containers Australia is established. | ||||
 |
1974 | YMCL factory is established; first Deckship built, and development of collapsible container. | ||||
 |
1975 | First Strider class vessel is delivered. Sea Containers moves to new offices at One Hanover Square. | ||||
 |
1976 | A second factory acquired by YMCL. The collapsible box is demonstrated to potential purchasers. | ||||
 |
1977 | |||||
