BENLINE

Founded in 1825 by brothers William and Alexander Thomson in Leith, Scotland, Ben Line started as a ship brokerage firm, initially importing marble from Leghorn, Italy. In its early years, the company expanded into coal transportation to Canada, returning with timber to Scotland.

By the 1850s, Ben Line had extended its shipping routes to Australia and the Far East, establishing a key base in Singapore. The company developed trade routes with China and Japan and played a significant role in the tea trade. By 1914, Ben Line owned 14 vessels, but suffered heavy losses during World War I and World War II, losing several ships in the conflicts.

After World War II, Ben Line focused on European-Far East trade routes, with Singapore serving as a key operational hub since 1951. In 1972, the company established Ben Line Ship Management Ltd., offering ship management services to independent vessel owners. A year later, in 1973, Ben Line joined the Trio Group, operating container ships on Far East trade routes.

By 1991, Ben Line had sold off its remaining fleet and shifted its focus to shipping agency and logistics services. In 1992, the company established Ben Line Agencies, which has since grown into a major industry player with over 130 offices and 2,300 employees worldwide. Today, Ben Line provides shipping agency services, port services, offshore industry support, and project logistics.