Studia Maritima

Three volumes of register files of the “Polsko-Brytyjskie Towarzystwo Okrętowe S.A.” from 1929–1938, which are part of the archival team of the Municipal Court in Gdynia, contain the most important documents (mainly in the form of reports and correspondence) related to the company’s operational and financial results, fleet and work organisation. They are not only comprehensive and diverse in terms of content, but, above all, they are an official source of information on the history of the popular “Polbryt,” created in its office. The information contained in them provides a basis for further research into the history of this shipping company, which had its most important period in the years 1929–1938. The company was established on 21 December 1928 after lengthy negotiations with Ellerman’s Wilson Line Limited. The result was the purchase of four cargo and passenger ships, which ensured regular transport between Gdańsk and Gdynia and ports in England (London, Hull, Dover) and France (Le Havre, Cherbourg and Dunkirk). The main goal of PBTO was to transport butter, bacon and eggs, i.e. perishable goods, as well as passengers (mainly emigrants travelling via Britain and France to North America) and horses. The company was established at a particularly difficult time for the development of global shipping. From its very first year, it had to combat not only a disastrous freight market and poor emigration conditions, but also difficulties arising from its lack of experience. Nevertheless, PBTO played an important role in the development of Polish-English and Polish-French trade relations. This article, like the company’s registration files, ends on 31 December 1938 due to the outbreak of World War II and the suspension of work by Polish courts keeping commercial records.