Established in 1976 by the Pacific Islands Forum to ensure a regional shipping service, it was purchased in 2012 by the government of Samoa.

The Pacific Forum Line was born from concern over the deterioration of traditional island tramp services due to containerisation.

[16] In September 2013 it sold a 50 percent stake in the company to Neptune Pacific Line, a subsidiary of Roll Global.

[17] The deal required PFL to continue to serve every Forum country except Tuvalu, Niue and the Marshall Islands.

PFL's current vessels include:[20] In April 2004 the captain of the Forum Fiji II died after being washed overboard 320 km south of Tonga.

[21] In August 2009 the Forum Samoa II ran aground on the reef at Apia harbour after suffering engine trouble.