The house flag of the Blue Star Line Ltd, London. A red swallow-tailed pennant bearing a white disc with a blue five-pointed star (introduced in 1928). The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and toggle is attached.

Blue Star Line was originally owned by the brothers William and Edmund Vestey, members of a family of Liverpool grocers. Responding to the development of refrigeration technology, they built up a worldwide food importation business, particularly frozen Chinese eggs and poultry. Blue Star Line was registered on 28 July 1911, its vessels carrying imported frozen meat from South America, particularly Argentina. The line was part of a larger financial empire including retail outlets and cold stores. In 1925 the company entered the South American passenger trade.

After the Ottawa Conference, shipping operations were extended to Australia and New Zealand. The Booth Steamship Co. Ltd was purchased in 1946 and in 1967 the South American trade of Donaldson Lines. In 1968 Blue Star Port Lines Management was formed in order to rationalize the two companies' Australasian services. The company was sold to P&O Nedlloyd in 1998, including its name and livery. The last Blue Star vessel 'America Star' was broken up in 2003.