C. Y. Tung and the Rise of Modern Chinese Shipping, 1912-1982

A business biography of C. Y. Tung, founder of the Orient Overseas Container Line and philanthropist.

Shipowner Tung Chao-Yung (1912-82) is remembered worldwide as a champion for Chinese shipping and a pioneer of container shipping. Despite coming from a humble background, by the time of his death, he controlled a huge fleet of passenger liners, bulk carriers, tankers, and container ships, while also managing a diverse network of port terminals, dockyards, banks, and prime real estate.

C. Y. Tung and the Rise of Modern Chinese Shipping sets out his pathway from a junior executive in the early 1930s to one of the world’s leading private shipowners. The authors argue that Tung achieved his dream of developing Chinese ocean shipping through his ability to learn, innovate, network, and devise strategies through decades of rapid technical and organizational change. He also earned wide respect for his generous philanthropy.

The book concludes with an overview of the emergence of the state-owned PRC fleet and brief histories of other multi-generational family companies in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.