The company was formed at Turin in 1906 and commenced Genoa - New York passenger sailings in 1907 via Naples and Palermo and started a Genoa - Buenos Aires service the same year. In 1912 the head office transferred from Turin to Genoa and in 1913 a subsidiary company, Marittima Italiana was formed to operate services to the Near East, Red Sea, East Africa, India and the Far East. A new service from Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean ports to New York was started in 1919, but intense competition from other lines soon caused the abandonment of this route. In 1919 an Italy - Australia service was also started. By the mid-1920s the company had disposed of their interests in Marittima Italiana and in 1929 Lloyd Sabaudo took financial control of Cosulich Line, Lloyd Triestino, Marittima Italiana and Adria Lines. By 1932 the world shipping depression caused the fusion of Lloyd Sabaudo, Cosulich and Navigazione Generale Italiana with the formation of a new company, ITALIA.