Cunard-White Star Ltd, was a British shipping line which existed between 1934 and 1949.[1]
History
The company was created to control the joint shipping assets of the Cunard Line and the White Star Line after both companies experienced financial difficulties during the Great Depression. Cunard White Star controlled a total of twenty-five ocean liners (with Cunard contributing fifteen ships and White Star ten). Both Cunard and White Star were in dire financial trouble, and were looking to complete enormous liners: White Star had Hull 844 – undefined – and Cunard had Hull 534, which would later become RMS Queen Mary. In 1933, the British government agreed to provide assistance to the two competitors on the condition that they merge their North Atlantic operations.[2] The agreement was completed on 30 December 1933, and the merger officially took place on 10 May 1934, resulting in the formation of Cunard-White Star Limited. Under the terms of the merger, Cunard contributed fifteen ships and White Star ten, giving the new company a fleet of twenty-five ocean liners. Ownership of the new company reflected the respective financial positions of the two lines: Cunard shareholders held a 62% stake, while 38% was allocated to White Star’s creditors.