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- Title
Loss of life at sea from shipping British coal since 1890.
- Authors
Carter, Tim; Williams, John G.; Smith, Hance D.; Protheroe-Jones, Jennifer; John, Ann; Roberts, Stephen E.
- Abstract
There was continuing public and political concern about the loss of life at sea during the second half of the nineteenth century in Britain. New regulatory requirements, introduced to examine the competence of officers, prevent overloading and reduce the risks from hazardous cargoes such as coal, were in place by 1890. However, the effectiveness of these measures was not systematically monitored at the time. This retrospective evaluation reviews subsequent loss of life in the coal trade, the largest sector of British exports by weight. Loss of life remained high; it was more dangerous to export a ton of coal than it was to mine it. Some routes, such as those around Cape Horn and to Scandinavia, carried the highest risk, and losses on European voyages were more common in winter. Over time, the risks reduced as sail gave way to steam and diesel propulsion, and as maritime communications improved.
- Subjects
HORN, Cape (Chile); SCANDINAVIA; UNITED Kingdom; SEAFARING life; COAL; COAL industry; VOYAGES &; travels; MARINE communication; MARITIME history
- Publication
International Journal of Maritime History, 2023, Vol 35, Issue 3, p431
- ISSN
0843-8714
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/08438714231181754