CP Ships
Canadian shipping company that evolved from transoceanic passenger and mail services into a major container carrier.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
CP Ships was the shipping business developed by Canadian Pacific Railway and its corporate successors. It began with trans-Pacific steamship services linking Vancouver with ports in East Asia and later became one of the most important Canadian operators of passenger liners, emigrant ships, mail vessels, freighters and, eventually, container ships. The business was closely integrated with Canadian Pacific's railway network, allowing passengers and cargo to move between ocean routes and the transcontinental railway. Canadian Pacific began a steamship service in 1887, initially chartering vessels from Cunard. The operation was brought under Canadian Pacific's direct management after its first years, and in 1891 it adopted the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company name. Its Pacific routes connected Vancouver and Victoria with Japan, China and Hong Kong, with later services extending to Manila and Honolulu. A subsidized British mail contract helped establish a regular trans-Pacific service, operated by early Empress liners including RMS Empress of China, RMS Empress of India and RMS Empress of Japan. The company expanded across the Atlantic in the early twentieth century. In 1903 it acquired the ships and services of the Beaver Line, and it later acquired the Allan Line. These transactions strengthened Canadian Pacific's position in routes between Britain and Canada and supported a large immigrant-transport business. Its Atlantic liners carried passengers from Europe, especially Britain and Scandinavia, to Canadian ports, while vessels such as RMS Empress of Britain and RMS Empress of Ireland became prominent symbols of the company's passenger operation. The 1914 sinking of Empress of Ireland after a collision in the Saint Lawrence River killed 1,012 people and remains the deadliest maritime disaster in Canadian history. Canadian Pacific vessels served the British and Canadian merchant navies during both world wars. During the Second World War, the fleet transported troops, civilians and cargo and suffered severe losses. SS Beaverford's action during Convoy HX 84 in 1940 helped protect other convoy vessels, while RMS Empress of Britain was attacked by aircraft and later torpedoed by a German submarine. The vessel was the largest ship sunk by a German U-boat during the war. The company also lost numerous other ships through enemy action and accidents. After 1945, passenger shipping faced growing competition from commercial aviation. Canadian Pacific introduced new Empress liners during the 1950s but gradually withdrew from scheduled passenger services. The business turned toward bulk carriers, tankers and container shipping. In 1971 it adopted the CP Ships name, reflecting the strategic shift toward freight and intermodal transportation. Container operations were particularly compatible with Canadian Pacific's railway and port assets. A major revival began with the Canada Maritime joint venture formed with Compagnie Maritime Belge in 1984. Canadian Pacific acquired its partner's interest in 1993 and subsequently expanded through acquisitions of container and liner companies, including Cast Group, Lykes Lines, Contship Containerlines, Ivaran Lines, TMM Lines, Christensen Canadian African Lines and Italia Line. By 2001, CP Ships was described as one of the world's largest container carriers and had a particularly strong position in the North Atlantic market. CP Ships was separated from Canadian Pacific as an independent company in 2001. In 2005, TUI AG agreed to acquire it and combine the business with Hapag-Lloyd. The transaction ended CP Ships as an independent corporate entity and placed its operations within the Hapag-Lloyd division. The brand therefore represents both an important chapter in Canadian ocean transportation and the transformation of a railway-connected passenger carrier into an international container-shipping group.
History
Canadian Pacific's shipping activities originated in 1887, when the railway company established a trans-Pacific connection from Vancouver as part of its broader transportation network. Three vessels were initially chartered from Cunard. Once the service demonstrated commercial potential, Canadian Pacific assumed direct management. In 1891 the operation became known as the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. The Pacific service linked western Canada with Japan, China and Hong Kong, and later included calls at Manila and Honolulu. Its role was not limited to freight: the ships carried passengers and mail, connecting the Canadian railway with routes between Britain, Canada and Asia. A British government mail agreement supported the service, and the early Empress liners became its best-known vessels. The company expanded into the Atlantic in 1903 by acquiring the ships and operations of the Beaver Line. It later absorbed the Allan Line, gaining a larger presence between Britain and Canada. This business transported European immigrants as well as ordinary travelers, freight and mail. Its passenger fleet included large Empress and Duchess liners, while its Beaver cargo ships provided scheduled freight capacity. The sinking of RMS Empress of Ireland in 1914 was the company's most consequential civilian disaster. After colliding with SS Storstad in fog in the Saint Lawrence River, the liner sank rapidly and 1,012 people died. Other significant fleet events included the loss of SS Princess Sophia in 1918, the survival and relief work of RMS Empress of Australia during the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, and the sinking of SS Princess Kathleen in 1952 after grounding in Alaska; in the latter case, all passengers and crew were rescued. Canadian Pacific supplied ships for wartime service in both world wars. During the First World War, vessels served under British direction and the company lost ships, including SS Mount Temple. During the Second World War, the fleet carried troops, civilians and cargo across dangerous routes. SS Beaverford's sacrifice during Convoy HX 84 helped protect the convoy, while Empress of Britain was destroyed after an aircraft attack and submarine torpedoing. Twelve vessels were lost to enemy action during the war, with additional losses from accidents. Although the company's mariners performed extensive wartime service, Canadian merchant seamen did not receive Canadian veterans' benefits until 1988. After the war, passenger shipping was increasingly undermined by commercial aviation. Canadian Pacific ordered or acquired several final-generation Empress liners during the 1950s, but scheduled passenger services were gradually withdrawn. The company redirected capital toward bulk carriers, tankers and container ships. In 1971 it changed its name to CP Ships, reflecting the freight-oriented strategy. The final regular transatlantic passenger service ended in 1972 with the sale of Empress of Canada. Container shipping became the central growth platform. In 1984 CP Ships formed Canada Maritime with Compagnie Maritime Belge to develop North Atlantic container traffic through Montreal and Canadian Pacific's rail network. Canadian Pacific bought out its partner in 1993. During the 1990s and early 2000s, CP Ships expanded through acquisitions of companies and routes including Cast Group, Lykes Lines, Contship Containerlines, Ivaran Lines, TMM Lines, Christensen Canadian African Lines and Italia Line. This acquisition program created a broad international liner network and made CP Ships one of the world's larger container carriers. The business was spun out of Canadian Pacific as a separate company in 2001. Its independent period was short: in 2005 TUI AG acquired CP Ships for cash and combined it with Hapag-Lloyd. The transaction ended the CP Ships corporate brand as an independent carrier. Its historical significance lies in the transition from a railway-sponsored passenger and mail network to a global container-logistics business.
- 2005
Acquired by TUI AG
[1]TUI AG acquires CP Ships and combines it with Hapag-Lloyd.
- 2001
CP Ships spun out as an independent company
[1]The container carrier is separated from Canadian Pacific as a standalone company.
- 1993
Canadian Pacific acquires full control of Canada Maritime
[1]Canadian Pacific buys out its joint-venture partner and merges the operation into CP Ships.
- 1984
Canada Maritime joint venture formed
[1]CP Ships partners with Compagnie Maritime Belge to build North Atlantic container traffic through Montreal.
- 1971
Business renamed CP Ships
[1]The shipping business adopts CP Ships as its name while transitioning from passenger liners toward container and other freight services.
- 1939
Royal tour voyage
[5]RMS Empress of Australia transports King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada during the 1939 royal tour.
- 1914
Empress of Ireland disaster
[2]RMS Empress of Ireland sinks after a collision in the Saint Lawrence River, with 1,012 fatalities.
- 1903
Beaver Line operations acquired
[1]Canadian Pacific takes over the Beaver Line's ships and Atlantic services, strengthening routes between Halifax and the United Kingdom.
- 1891
Canadian Pacific Steamship Company name adopted
[1]The railway's shipping operation receives the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company name and expands its role in passenger, mail and freight transportation.
- 1887
Trans-Pacific service begins
[1]Canadian Pacific begins steamship operations between Vancouver and Asian destinations, initially using chartered Cunard vessels.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as a railway-connected Canadian ocean carrier, first emphasizing passenger, mail and freight links between Canada, Britain, Europe and Asia, and later focusing on international container logistics and intermodal freight.
Passenger, mail and freight shipping · 1887
Trans-Pacific steamship services
The original Canadian Pacific ocean service connected Vancouver and Victoria with Japan, China and Hong Kong, later extending to Manila and Honolulu. It linked the Canadian Pacific railway with Asian maritime routes and carried passengers, mail and cargo. Early Empress liners gave the service a premium and internationally recognizable profile.
Passenger and immigrant transportation · 1903
Atlantic liner services
After acquiring Beaver Line operations and later the Allan Line, Canadian Pacific operated regular routes between Britain and Canada. Its Atlantic ships transported immigrants from Europe, especially Britain and Scandinavia, along with leisure travelers, mail and freight. Large Empress and Duchess liners formed the centerpiece of this business.
Freight shipping · 1920
Beaver Ships
The Beaver ships were a group of fast cargo liners developed during the interwar period. Vessels such as Beaverford, Beaverdale, Beaverburn, Beaverhill and Beaverbrae supported scheduled freight movements and represented Canadian Pacific's effort to combine speed, reliability and railway-linked distribution.
Container logistics · 1960
Container shipping
From the 1960s onward, CP Ships increasingly concentrated on containerized freight as aviation eroded the economics of long-distance passenger liners. Container operations integrated with Canadian Pacific's rail system and port facilities, particularly the Montreal gateway, and eventually became the company's principal international business.
Container shipping joint venture · 1984
Canada Maritime
Canada Maritime was established with Compagnie Maritime Belge in 1984 to develop North Atlantic container traffic. Its business was designed around Canadian Pacific's rail connections and Montreal terminals. Canadian Pacific took full control in 1993 and incorporated the operation into CP Ships.
Brand decisions
2005
Sale to TUI AG and merger with Hapag-LloydM&ABackground
TUI AG sought to combine CP Ships with its Hapag-Lloyd shipping division.
Action taken
TUI AG offered to acquire CP Ships for cash and merge it into Hapag-Lloyd. The offer received acceptance from 89.1 percent of CP Ships shareholders.
Aftermath
CP Ships ceased to operate as an independent corporate group and its activities became part of Hapag-Lloyd.
Cash acquisition offer. €1.7 billion offered; US$21.50 per share (August-October 2005)
2001
Spin-off from Canadian PacificStrategyBackground
CP Ships had become a substantial international container carrier and was no longer simply a supporting division of the railway conglomerate.
Action taken
The business was separated from Canadian Pacific and operated as an independent company.
Aftermath
The independent company was subsequently acquired by TUI AG in 2005.
1984
Formation of Canada MaritimeStrategyBackground
CP Ships sought to strengthen its North Atlantic container presence and use Montreal as a gateway connected to Canadian Pacific's rail network.
Action taken
It formed a container-shipping joint venture with Compagnie Maritime Belge.
Aftermath
The venture performed well enough for Canadian Pacific to acquire its partner's interest in 1993 and fold the operation into CP Ships.
1971
Shift from passenger shipping to freight and containersStrategyBackground
Commercial aviation weakened the traditional market for long-distance passenger liners, while containerization offered closer integration with Canadian Pacific's railway and port infrastructure.
Action taken
The company adopted the CP Ships name and redirected its business toward container shipping, bulk carriers, tankers and other freight activities.
Aftermath
Regular transatlantic passenger service ended soon afterward, while container operations became the foundation for the company's later growth.
Sources5 sources
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