Founded by John Norton in 1841 in the burgeoning international shipping center of New York Harbor, Norton Lilly International has a long-standing reputation of meeting and exceeding the shipping needs of clients around the world.

Norton Lilly International's global presence expanded in 1994 with the acquisition of Kerr Steamship. This new partnership, renamed Kerr Norton Marine, immediately brought about quicker turnarounds and reduced port costs for thousands of international clients, and made Kerr Norton Marine one of the most trusted independent maritime agencies in the world.

Meanwhile, in the spring of 2002, Norton Lilly and Strachan Shipping Agency joined forces to become the largest provider of agency services in North America. Combining our experienced and dedicated staffs has strengthened our ability and commitment to continue serving your needs beyond expectation.

1841 - John Norton books his first cargo of kerosene aboard a small sailing ship bound for South America .Norton & Co. is formed.

1886 - Captain Frank Garden Strachan and George P. Walker found Strachan Shipping Agency.

1907 - Norton & Co. becomes Norton Lilly & Co.

1916 - H.F.Kerr and A.E.Clegg form Kerr Steamship.

1977 - Kerr Steamship incorporates.

1925 - Norton Lilly opens offices in Panama Canal.

1971 - Containerization and computerization take Norton Lilly into a dramatic transitional period.

1993 - A strategic alliance between Norton Lilly and Kerr Steamship begins.

1994 - Norton Lilly International acquires Kerr Steamship and forms Kerr Norton Marine.

1999 - Win Thurber & Schley Rutherford purchase Strachan Shipping Agency.

2002 - Norton Lilly International and Strachan Shipping agency join together.

2003 - Norton Lilly International launches expansion into the Middle East; specifically - Umm Qaser, Baghdad and Basra.

2004 - Kerr Norton Strachan becomes stakeholder in S5 Agency World.

2005 - H.W.Thurber,III named to the International Maritime Hall of Fame.

2005 - Waldron International Shipping and Norton Lilly International Hawail from an alliance.

2005 - Norton Lilly International acquires the Rio Group and renamed the company Norton Lilly Cargo Services.

2006 - Norton Lilly Barbados is established.