The company claims a continuous heritage since the 1807 creation of the Bibby Line by the first John Bibby(1775-1840),but in fact the Bibbys were not in the shipping business for some years after 1873.
Sir Derek Bibby,2nd baronet,a great-great-grandson of the founder and past chairman and president of the firm,suffered from leukemia and committed suicide October 9,2002 at age 80.
The family continues to hold a substantial interest in the firm,which has always been based in Liverpool.