NACHIPA LINE

The history of Naviera Chilena del Pacífico S.A. (NACHIPA) began when Mr. Arturo Fernández Zegers, a visionary businessman, entered the maritime business world. In the early years, he supplied the Braden Cooper Company – El Teniente Mine - with scrap iron until in the face of dwindling reserves, he acquired an old dredger for scrap, but saw that he could transform it into a merchant ship. The steamship that emerged became the “Huelén”, Don Arturo’s first venture– albeit unsuccessful – into the ship owning business. Nevertheless, the maritime idea had already taken hold of the visionary young entrepreneur. With experience under his belt, his great energy and formidable business skills, Don Arturo Fernández joined Mr. Ivor Davis – along with a select group of investors – to create the shipping company, Naviera Chilena del Pacífico S.A. Thus, on June 30, 1948, NACHIPA was authorized to enter and develop the maritime, fluvial, lake & land transport industry.Despite the difficulties of the post-war era, the shipping project was finally afloat and ready to set sail. With the acquisition of the “Don Thompson” steamship from Compañía Carbonífera e Industrial de Lota, NACHIPA began transporting the coal company’s own mineral. NACHIPA’s first vessel was baptized “Algarrobo”.
From that point onwards, new ships were acquired and new transport contracts secured, thereby offering & implementing maritime services in line with the needs of the industry and transforming NACHIPA into an ever improving company.
Coal, Chilean nitrates, copper, iron, forestry products, fertilizers and grains all travel aboard NACHIPA’s ships. With the Chilean flag flying proud, they develop new traffic routes hand-in-hand with the various import & export industries of our country and the other American nations. A national company, a great family, whose spirit has enabled it to overcome each of the hurdles posed along its path, always attentive to the ever changing and demanding needs & requirements of the shipping business. Through the acquisition of ships with greater cargo capacity & technology, NACHIPA sails toward the future, with more than half a century's experience in its wake.