2 The Era Shaping the Hague Rules
2.1 Steamships, Opening of Suez Canal, and Liner
Conferences (1850s–1900s)
In the second half of the nineteenth century, the shipping industry experienced
unprecedented development.
10 The steam engine significantly increased vessel
power
11 commensurately enhancing the ability of ships to transport goods. Between
1854 and 1856, the efforts of John Elder resulted in reduction of fuel consumption of
steam engines to approximately 2–2.5 pounds of good coal per horsepower per hour
thus enhancing the capacity of steam-driven vessels.
12 Later, the invention of the
compound engine and the triple expansion engine also reduced fuel consumption
substantially, and space previously used for storage of fuel became available for
cargo.
13 Improvements in engine efficiency further reduced the cost of ocean
carriage.
14 Consequently, steam ships became serious competitors of sailing ships
in the early 1880s.
15
The emergence of steamships led to a significant increase in the amount of goods
carried. It has been estimated that international sea carriage of goods increased over
400% between 1850 and 1869.
16 The size of the shipping industry increased when
sail gave way to steam.
17 Steamships further guaranteed transportation frequency
and encouraged the emergence of liners. Previously, sea carriage was undertaken by
sailing ships utilizing wind power, thus relying heavily on the wind.
18 Shipping
efficiency was hugely dependent on the direction and force of the wind.
19 Because of
the vagaries of the wind and ocean currents, sailing ships were unable to provide
regular scheduled services.
20 Steamships began to offer regular and scheduled
services, and liner shipping became established.
21 However, they did not replace
sailing vessels entirely; the two co-existed and competed with each other for quite
some time, particularly in the Eurasian trade routes exemplified and typified by the
10 Faria (2008), pp. 279, 319.
11 Clapham (1952), p. 71. See Holt (1878), pp. 2–11.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid. See Harley (1971), pp. 215–234.
14 Harley (1971).
15 Ibid.
16 Fletcher (1958), pp. 556–573.
17 Ibid, 558.
18 Ibid.
19 Ibid.
20 See Boyce (1995), p. 25.
21 See Armstrong (1991), pp. 55–65. See also Burley (1968). Although sailing ships were operated
as liner shipping on the UK-Australia and Germany-South America routes, this was very
exceptional.
Lex Maritima in a Changing World: Development and Prospect of. . .
763
2.1 Steamships, Opening of Suez Canal, and Liner
Conferences (1850s–1900s)
In the second half of the nineteenth century, the shipping industry experienced
unprecedented development.
10 The steam engine significantly increased vessel
power
11 commensurately enhancing the ability of ships to transport goods. Between
1854 and 1856, the efforts of John Elder resulted in reduction of fuel consumption of
steam engines to approximately 2–2.5 pounds of good coal per horsepower per hour
thus enhancing the capacity of steam-driven vessels.
12 Later, the invention of the
compound engine and the triple expansion engine also reduced fuel consumption
substantially, and space previously used for storage of fuel became available for
cargo.
13 Improvements in engine efficiency further reduced the cost of ocean
carriage.
14 Consequently, steam ships became serious competitors of sailing ships
in the early 1880s.
15
The emergence of steamships led to a significant increase in the amount of goods
carried. It has been estimated that international sea carriage of goods increased over
400% between 1850 and 1869.
16 The size of the shipping industry increased when
sail gave way to steam.
17 Steamships further guaranteed transportation frequency
and encouraged the emergence of liners. Previously, sea carriage was undertaken by
sailing ships utilizing wind power, thus relying heavily on the wind.
18 Shipping
efficiency was hugely dependent on the direction and force of the wind.
19 Because of
the vagaries of the wind and ocean currents, sailing ships were unable to provide
regular scheduled services.
20 Steamships began to offer regular and scheduled
services, and liner shipping became established.
21 However, they did not replace
sailing vessels entirely; the two co-existed and competed with each other for quite
some time, particularly in the Eurasian trade routes exemplified and typified by the
10 Faria (2008), pp. 279, 319.
11 Clapham (1952), p. 71. See Holt (1878), pp. 2–11.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid. See Harley (1971), pp. 215–234.
14 Harley (1971).
15 Ibid.
16 Fletcher (1958), pp. 556–573.
17 Ibid, 558.
18 Ibid.
19 Ibid.
20 See Boyce (1995), p. 25.
21 See Armstrong (1991), pp. 55–65. See also Burley (1968). Although sailing ships were operated
as liner shipping on the UK-Australia and Germany-South America routes, this was very
exceptional.
Lex Maritima in a Changing World: Development and Prospect of. . .
763