Bombay Steam Navigation Company

Bombay Steam Navigation Company was the first Indian-owned shipping company.^[1] It was founded by Ismail Hasham, a Kutchi Memon.^[2]

The House flag of Bombay Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.

The company operated passenger ferry and cargo services along the Konkan coast of India.^[3] In 1952, it was amalgamated with The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Limited.^[4]

Ships

At various times, Bombay Steam Navigation Company owned and operated the following ships-

• SS Mandovi (An 1886 built 218 Gross registered tons cargo ship, she was lost in the English channel in the same year as her built)^[5]
• SS Bhima (A Cargo steamship of 1,194 GRT, Built by Earles Ship building UK in 1864. The Bhima was lost in 1866 on a voyage from Bombay to Suez)^[6]
• SS Brahmani (Built by Aisa shipbuilding Scotland in 1891, the Brahmani was a steam cargo ship of 1015 GRT. In 1900, she sank following a collision near Karwar, en route from Mangalore to Bombay)^[7]
• SS Godavari^[8] (A 182 GRT 1884 built cargo ship, the Godavari ran aground in 1910)^[9]
• SS Mozaffari (The Mozaffari was among the first Indian registered ships of Bombay steam navigation. Built in 1882 by Schlesinger Davis & Co. - Wallsend, the Mozaffari was acquired by the company in 1896. She ran aground and was wrecked in 1910 when entering Mozambique on a voyage from ports in East Africa to Bombay)^[10]
• MV Dipavati (A diesel propelled passenger ship of 840 GRT, built in 1936 in Scotland, she capsized while at anchor off Bombay in 1948)^[11]

List of proprietors

In chronological order:

• Ismail Hasham (founder)
• Ismail Yusuf (son of Ismail Hasham)
• (Sir) Mohamed Yusuf (son of Ismail Yusuf)
• Abdul Rahaman Yusuf (eldest son of Mohamed Yusuf)