A brief history of the Chamber

In the early nineteenth century, there were more than 30 regional shipowners’ associations.  In 1878, most of these associations agreed to support the formation of a national trade association, the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom.  This rapidly became the dominant trade association for shipping. The Chamber was granted a Royal Charter in 1920.

In the meantime, in 1890, the Shipping Federation was formed as an employers’ association in response to increasing trade union activity.  Its principal role was strike breaking by the supply of non-unionised seamen to members’ ships.  The First World War largely ended the bitter conflict between the unions and the Federation, and in 1920 the two sides agreed to negotiate on seafarers’ pay and conditions within the National Maritime Board (NMB). 

The Federation played a vital role in manning the nation’s merchant ships throughout the Second World War.  In 1947 it became a joint supply system, with union involvement, as the Merchant Navy Establishment (MNE). 
Following the Rochdale Report, the Chamber and the Federation (by now the British Shipping Federation) merged in 1975 to create the General Council of British Shipping (GCBS). 

The NMB continued until 1990, when it was abolished as changing conditions made it more appropriate for conditions to be agreed at company level, rather than nationally.  The MNE was also closed at the same time.

In 1992, the GCBS was renamed The Chamber of Shipping.  The BSF is now dormant. 

Following the 1975 merger, the BSF staff moved into the premises owned by the Chamber at 30/32 St Mary Axe.  A terrorist bomb destroyed this building in 1992 and the site was subsequently sold for redevelopment.  After a period in temporary accommodation at 2-5 Minories, the Chamber purchased its current building at 12 Carthusian Street in 1994.  HM Queen Elizabeth II opened it in 1994.

  Read the whole Chamber History