1872 The Swire flag
Category: Corporate, Marine ServicesAt the time when The China Navigation Company (CNCo) was established, its major competitor on the Yangtze River was an American-owned business, the Shanghai Steam Navigation Company. John Samuel Swire was determined to outdo his rivals and the flag he designed for his new shipping company was deliberately provocative. Shanghai Steam Navigation’s flag showed two blue triangles, apex to apex, on a white ground; CNCo’s was to be identical - but red instead of blue. However, at the last minute, John Samuel Swire introduced a wide blue vertical stripe through the centre of the flag where the two triangles met, and the Swire flag was born.