From sail to steam

Subtitle:two generations of seafarers and the maritime labour market in Antwerp, 1850-1900

​The transition from sail to steam heralded a new era for the maritime industry during the second half of the nineteenth century. Historians have argued that the changeover to steam stimulated innovation, altered business models and had an impact on different layers of society. As such, we know a lot about the diffusion of steam technology, operational and business-related changes and experiences of national fleets. In current historiography, however, the maritime workforce on steamers often remains an anonymous mass, in contrast to many studies that deal with maritime workers in the age of sail. This research investigates the impact of the transition from sail to steam on the maritime labour force and how this transformation (re)shaped the maritime labour market for seafarers. This is relevant, because this focus provides more insights into the socioeconomic effects of the changeover to steam on labourers and the operation and accessibility of labour markets. The impact of the transformation on maritime workers and labour markets becomes clear from in-depth analyses of the Antwerp seamen’s registry. The Belgian case demonstrates that changes in labour structures, wage distribution, recruitment practices, migration trajectories and career development resulted in a more pronounced segmentation of the maritime labour market for seafarers in Antwerp. At the same time, these crucial components also highlight that old patterns did not immediately disappear, which contrasts with general accepted assumptions. This suggests that the impact of the breakthrough of steam on the maritime workforce concerned a gradual process that followed the rhythm of the implementation of new technologies and innovations during the period under consideration.

Publication year:2020

Keywords:Doctoral thesis

Accessibility:Embargoed