Canada Steamship Lines · 1950
Two CSL funnels, black-white-red, drawn with guy-wires and a puff of steam.
Power, Rail, Marine, Air
Canada Steamship Lines
4 pictures · 1950–1965
- Founded
- 1913 (Canada Transportation Lines / Canada Steamship Lines, 17 June 1913); roots 1845 Compagnie du Richelieu
- Head office then
- 759 Victoria Square, Montreal
Canada Steamship Lines, from Victoria Square in Montreal, ran Great Lakes and St. Lawrence bulk carriers, package freighters and self-unloaders, plus shipyards and trucks. After the Seaway opened in 1959 it dropped passenger steamers and concentrated on grain, coal, ore, salt and other bulk.
It was the main Canadian flag on the Lakes. Self-unloaders moved cargo without shore cranes, which mattered for steel, grain and construction materials.
Why it mattered
CSL was the main Canadian flag on the Lakes after the 1913 merger of inland lines. Self-unloaders moved bulk cargo without shore cranes, which mattered for Canadian steel, grain, and construction materials.
Now
Paul Martin and Lawrence Pathy bought CSL from Power Corporation in 1981. Martin later became sole owner and in 2003 transferred his interest to his sons. CSL is still a private Montreal shipowner.
Still open
- Purchase price in 1981 is given as $180 million by The Canadian Encyclopedia; Power Corporation's advertised figure in other accounts differs. The $180 million figure is the encyclopedia's.
- The 1965 report's shipyards and trucking were later sold; dates of those dispositions are not all pinned here.
Sources
The pictures
- Canada Steamship Lines 1950 — annual reportarchive.org/details/McGillLibrary-630157-29618
- Canada Steamship Lines 1955 — annual reportarchive.org/details/McGillLibrary-630152-29633
- Canada Steamship Lines 1957 — annual reportarchive.org/details/McGillLibrary-630150-29639
- Canada Steamship Lines 1965 — annual reportarchive.org/details/Cana4534_1965
References
- The Canadian Encyclopedia: Canada Steamship Lines IncSeaway-era bulk trades; 1981 Martin / Federal Commerce purchase
- The Canadian Encyclopedia: Paul Martinfate: Aug 1981 purchase $180 million; sole owner 1988
- CSL: Over 175 years of shipping history1913 incorporation; Power Corp; 1981 Martin/Pathy; 2003 transfer to sons
- CSL: Meet Our Teamfate: still owned by Paul, David, and James Martin; Paul W.J. Martin chair
- Globe and Mail: Martin turns over CSL shipping empire to sons (2003)fate: 2003 transfer of interest to three sons
- Corporations Canada: The CSL Group Inc. (441855-7)fate: active federal corporation; Martin family significant control; 759 Victoria Square
- Power Corporation of Canada history: 1968 to 1980Power majority 1969; full ownership 1971