Did Steam Make Shipping Safer? Evidence from the British Coastal Bulk Trades

Abstract

The transition from sail to steam had more profound effects than any other development in the recorded history of merchant shipping. In combination with iron and steel hulls, steam power enabled ships to become larger, more reliable and more efficient, with far reaching effects on the shipping industry and world trade. But the question has rarely been asked, did the change make ships safer? This was of immediate concern to those working aboard the ships, but also to those who operated, financed, employed and insured them. It might be expected that an iron or steel hull, propelled independently of wind and tide, would be in less danger from accidental loss than a wooden ship largely at the mercy of the elements, but evidence is largely lacking. This paper reports a survey comparing the loss rates of sailing and steam-powered vessels in the British coastal bulk trades, where sail and steam were doing similar work in the same geographical setting. Although steam vessels were marginally safer, the difference in rates of loss are not as great as expected, and reasons for this are discussed, with particular focus on those who worked aboard them or had a financial or commercial interest.