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.
Scroll
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
| ’81 | – | Geestbay enters service |
| ’82 | – | New 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. |
| ’83 | – | Geestport first commercial vessel into Grenada after American invasion |
1980's
| ’81 | – | Geestbay enters service |
| ’82 | – | New 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. |
| ’83 | – | Geestport 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
Geest St Lucia and Geest Dominica enter service
1993
Geest Line port operations moved from Barry to Southampton
1993
Geest St Lucia and Geest Dominica enter service
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
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