Company History

The founder of the company, Thomas Harrison, began work as an employee of a Liverpool based company of shipping agents. In 1839 he became a full partner in the firm which became known as George Brown and Harrison. Thomas’s brother James joined the partnership in 1849 when the company’s main trade was the import of brandy and wines from the Charente region of Cognac.

Following the death of George Brown in 1853 the company was renamed Thos. & Jas. Harrison and from 1857 the vessels were named after trades and professions. In 1863 scheduled services to India commenced and during the American Civil War the company started a service to New Orleans carrying cement out and cotton home.

The Charente Steamship Company was founded in 1871 with Thos. & Jas. Harrison as managers. In 1911 the Aberdeen based company John T. Rennie, Son & Co. was purchased and that fleet continued to sail to South Africa as Harrison-Rennie Line.

The company suffered the loss of 27 vessels during World War 1 but the fleet was successfully rebuilt in the following decade. Unfortunately the great depression of the late 1920’s and early 30’s resulted in much of the fleet being sold and a large proportion of the remainder being laid up.

The company entered World War 2 with a fleet of 45 vessels but once again suffered heavy losses and in 1946 only 30 vessels remained.

Between 1945 and 1977 the company again expanded with the fleet peaking at 43 vessels in 1956. From 1977 onwards however trading conditions became very difficult and in common with nearly all British shipping companies a struggle for survival began. The market for general cargo ships began to decline and the company diversified into bulk carriers and container ships but the fleet continued to decline and in 2000 the shipping interests were sold to P&O Nedlloyd.

Today Charente Ltd is the holding company for several companies engaged in the marine supply and service sector and the focus is now on expanding these activities which are detailed on the homepage.