ABSTRACT
Polska Zegluga Morska (PZM) or Polish Steamship Company was the predominately bulk shipping company in Poland set up by the state on 1st January 1951 along with Polish Ocean Lines (POL), emerging from a branch office of Gdynia America Shipping Lines. By 1957, PZM was specialising in both bulk and liner services, in some cases in direct competition with the activities of POL. The reorganisation of Polish shipping companies introduced on 1st January 1970 resulted in considerable changes to the structure and operations of PZM. PZM's South American routes had developed over the 1960s and 1970s. In 1972, PZM carried 155,000 tons of ore from Brazil but by 1977 this had risen to 1.2 million tons. Developing country markets were particularly important for PZM because their export cargoes were mainly raw materials requiring bulk carriers. By 1987, PZM had a licence from the Ministry of Foreign Trade to conduct their own business.
