East Indiaman
East Indians (English: East Indiamen , Dutch : Oostindiëvaarders ) were ships that sailed between Europe and Asia on behalf of the East Indian companies to exchange goods.
From the 16th to the 19th century there were mostly large ships of the respective epoch. The term could thus encompass various types of ships and designs. In addition to their size, there were special shipbuilding precautions that had to be taken to preserve the hull on the long journey. In addition to larger-sized woods, these vehicles also featured additional measures against growth and infestation by shipworms . From a shipbuilding point of view, they represented an intermediate stage between war and merchant ships. This was intended to bring the valuable cargo of spices , substances , opium and tea , which were exported as part of the Indian trade , safely to their destination. Their equipment was also far superior to a normal merchant ship of that era in order to be able to defend itself against pirates and competitors. The largest East Indiamans were in size and armament between a frigate with up to two gun decks and a ship of the line . Men and officers were often paid no better than other seamen. But since there was always a shortage of staff, advertising was carried out in Germany and abroad, where wages were significantly lower. In addition, the paradisiacal conditions in the target area were lured and the thirst for adventure addressed.
In the 18th century the French corsair Robert Surcouf succeeded as a result of these circumstances in capturing such ships, as the crew of the British East Indiaman was so understaffed that they could not use their full armament at all.
The British and Dutch ( Dutch East India Company ) built the most important ships of this type. Lelystad is home to a sailable reconstruction of the East Indiaman Batavia from the first half of the 17th century. In Amsterdam the replica which is Amsterdam , one of the East Indiaman Amsterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) . This replica has a slightly increased height between the decks so that visitors do not have to bend down and bump against the deck beam.