65 Years

Geest Line has fostered trade links between the UK and the Caribbean for more than 65 years and today carries more cargo between Europe and the Windward and Leeward islands than any other shipping line.

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1935

Geest horticultural business formed by the Van Geest brothers in Spalding, UK.

1945

Geest enters shipping business across North Sea

1935

Geest horticultural business formed by the Van Geest brothers in Spalding, UK.

1945

Geest enters shipping business across North Sea

1953

Geest Industries (WI) Limited formed in St Lucia and first consignment of bananas shipped on the Golden Gate to London docks. Antilles Banana Company acquired.

Charter of ships Windward Island and Leeward Islands bringing first shipment of bananas from Dominca to Preston then subsequent voyages to Preston and Liverpool

1953

Geest Industries (WI) Limited formed in St Lucia and first consignment of bananas shipped on the Golden Gate to London docks. Antilles Banana Company acquired.

Charter of ships Windward Island and Leeward Islands bringing first shipment of bananas from Dominca to Preston then subsequent voyages to Preston and Liverpool

1960's

1960 Geestland and Geeststar enters service – Geest’s first purpose built banana boats
1961 First regular general cargo call for Geest to Barbados. Network of ripening centres developed – Heathfield(Devon), Ardrie (Scotland), St Helens (Lancashire), Spalding (Lincs), Stansted (Essex), Burnham, Lingfield, Shenstone and Warminster (Wilts)
1964 Geestbay and Geestport enters service – first Geest ships under British flag
1966 Geestcape and Geesthaven enter service
1969 Geest stops using Liverpool following loss of fruit due to dock strike

1960's

1960 Geestland and Geeststar enters service – Geest’s first purpose built banana boats
1961 First regular general cargo call for Geest to Barbados. Network of ripening centres developed – Heathfield(Devon), Ardrie (Scotland), St Helens (Lancashire), Spalding (Lincs), Stansted (Essex), Burnham, Lingfield, Shenstone and Warminster (Wilts)
1964 Geestbay and Geestport enters service – first Geest ships under British flag
1966 Geestcape and Geesthaven enter service
1969 Geest stops using Liverpool following loss of fruit due to dock strike

1971

Geesttide enters service

1972

Geestcrest and new Geestland enter service

1973

New Geeststar enters service

1971

Geesttide enters service

1972

Geestcrest and new Geestland enter service

1973

New Geeststar enters service

1980's

’81Geestbay enters service
’82New Geestport enters service.
Geestport requisitioned by British Government to support Falklands War.
Port operations in UK moved to Avonmouth for a short period before returning to Barry.
’83Geestport first commercial vessel into Grenada after American invasion

1980's

’81Geestbay enters service
’82New Geestport enters service.
Geestport requisitioned by British Government to support Falklands War.
Port operations in UK moved to Avonmouth for a short period before returning to Barry.
’83Geestport first commercial vessel into Grenada after American invasion

1985

Geestbay rescues Richard Branson, Chay Blyth and crew of Virgin Atlantic Challenger from sea after their failed attempt to claim the Blue Ribbon trophy for fastest Atlantic crossing.

1985

Geestbay rescues Richard Branson, Chay Blyth and crew of Virgin Atlantic Challenger from sea after their failed attempt to claim the Blue Ribbon trophy for fastest Atlantic crossing.

1986

Geest plc quoted on London Stock Exchange

1986

Geest plc quoted on London Stock Exchange

1993

Geest Line port operations moved from Barry to Southampton

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Geest St Lucia and Geest Dominica enter service

Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 10.46x
Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 10.46

1993

Geest Line port operations moved from Barry to Southampton

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1993

Geest St Lucia and Geest Dominica enter service

Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 10.46x
Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 10.46

1996

Geest plc sells Geest Bananas to a joint venture between Windward Islands Banana Development & Exporting Company (UK) Limited and Fyffes Group Limited

1996

Geest plc sells Geest Bananas to a joint venture between Windward Islands Banana Development & Exporting Company (UK) Limited and Fyffes Group Limited

1998

Coventry Ripening centre opened & Geest Line uses controlled atmosphere for carriage of bananas for first time improving shelf life of fruit

1998

Coventry Ripening centre opened & Geest Line uses controlled atmosphere for carriage of bananas for first time improving shelf life of fruit

2001

Geest Bananas stops selling bananas in its own name in the UK

2002

Port operations in the UK moved to Portsmouth

2001

Geest Bananas stops selling bananas in its own name in the UK

2002

Port operations in the UK moved to Portsmouth

2008

Geest Bananas Limited changes name to Geest Line Limited

2008

Geest Bananas Limited changes name to Geest Line Limited

2018

Port operations in the UK moved to Dover

2018

Port operations in the UK moved to Dover

2019

Port operations in the UK returned to Portsmouth

2021

April 2021 – Geest Line acquired by ‘Seatrade Group and Jamaica Producers Group in new joint venture

Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 10.46x
Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 10.46

2019

Port operations in the UK returned to Portsmouth

2021

April 2021 – Geest Line acquired by ‘Seatrade Group and Jamaica Producers Group in new joint venture

Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 10.46x
Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 10.46