Collier (ship)

Collier is an English term for ships that were intended for the transport of coal in the coastal trade. In the naval history partly coal-fired ships were referred to as such.

History

Ever since the 13th century coal was transported from northern English coal mines to London, where she was named to the distinction of charcoal Seekohle (Sea- coal ). Already for the year 1226 can be a Sea Coal Lane prove there. For this traffic, a simple coastal sailor type mitveränderte is analogous to the general development of the shipbuilding industry developed. During 1370 about 100 ships transported volumes, each approximately 50 tons on the English coast and in several European ports, about 250 tons of coal could be transported depending on the approximately 300 vessels were employed in the 15th century in this traffic, already. Another crucial development step was the Collier brig, which was the dominant type of ship for a long time in this trade.

From the mid 19th century, the transition was made to steamships, which could take water ballast and the traffic is very accelerated. The further development of Colliers culminated in ship types, such as trunk Decker, Decker tower and later bulk carriers.

Trivia

A Collier, who came to great prominence was the 1784 -built coal carrier Bethia the Royal Navy, who, under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh in 1787 the British port of Portsmouth left under the name Bounty on a trip to the South Seas, by cuttings of the breadfruit tree from Tahiti to bring to the West Indies. By led by Fletcher Christian Mutiny, the ship became a worldwide celebrity. Among other things, about the incident in 1879 under the name Les Révoltés de la Bounty a short story by the French writer Jules Verne published.

Even as research vessels Colliers were used. For example, used James Cook for his South Sea expeditions built as Colliers ships Endeavour, Resolution and Adventure.