The history of water transport is a long and fascinating one. From cruise ships to cargo transport to water buses, there are many types of water transport that have played a key role in its history. This article takes you through the story of water transport, from the earliest dugout canoes to the giant cruise and container ships of today.
What is water transport?
Before delving into the history of water transport, it is important to understand what water transport is.
Water transport, or maritime transport, refers to the use of vessels or vehicles to transport people or goods via water – whether that be a sea, ocean, lake, river, canal or other body of water. It has a long history and is still used today on a daily basis for recreational, military and trade purposes.
Early history
Looking at the very early history of water transport involves looking at when the first boat was invented. Records suggest that boats have been in use for a long time. The oldest recovered boat is the Pesse canoe, found in the Netherlands, which was made from hollowing out a tree trunk somewhere between 8200 and 7600 BC. It is one of the earliest known pieces of evidence of water transport.
The Ancient Egyptians were using boats made from bundles of papyrus reeds, tied tightly together, on the River Nile thousands of years ago. They later built large wooden boats from planks – the Khufu ship, buried beside the Great Pyramid of Giza around 2500 BC, is one of the oldest intact ships in the world – and used vessels like these to transport stone, grain, people and much more.
Austronesian peoples from the islands of Southeast Asia were among the world’s greatest early seafarers, and by the first millennium BC they had established maritime trade routes reaching South Asia. Chinese records from the 3rd century AD describe their large ships, known as ‘kunlun bo’ (‘ships of the Kunlun people’), which had up to four masts and could sail close to the wind thanks to their tanja sails. Austronesian sailors are credited with spreading sailing technology and techniques to China and other parts of Asia.
The history of water transport in the Viking era
The Vikings relied on boats as their primary form of transport, making them key figures in the history of water transport. The Viking Age is usually dated from 793 AD, when Vikings raided the monastery at Lindisfarne in England.
Fjord Tours say Some of the earliest ships discovered were the Oseberg, the Gokstad, and the Tune. These ships were not as specialized as the ships that would be created after them. So, it appears that they were used for everything from transport to battle.
By the end of the 9th century, specialization of the ships had begun. Around this time, the Vikings started to create warships. Warships were longer and slimmer than previous boats the Vikings had built, and although the name might inspire visions of epic sea battles, the warships were actually used for something altogether different. Due to their shape and size, these vessels were able to navigate sheltered waters where they would drop off the Vikings at a point of interest. From there, the Vikings could discreetly enter their target location. The warships were designed for a quick getaway once the Vikings had obtained the loot from their target location.
The Arab age of discovery
At the same time as the Viking era, the Islamic world was expanding its trade networks across Asia, Europe and Africa. During the 8th to 12th centuries, it has been described as the world’s leading economic power. Many rivers in the Islamic region were unnavigable. Due to this, transport by sea was very important; using a compass and a kamal, sailors during this period could sail across oceans rather than just along the coast – cutting the time it took to get from A to B. Sea trade allowed for the distribution of food and supplies to feed entire nations of people in the Middle East. And long-distance sea trade meant the importation of raw materials for building and luxury goods for wealthy citizens. They used ships called a qarib, which would go on to inspire the Spanish caravel.
The history of water transport continued
During the 15th and 16th centuries, water transport was key in what is known as the Age of Discovery. This was Christopher Columbus’ era, when European ships sailed across the world searching for new trading routes. Other big names in maritime history around this time include John Cabot, Ferdinand Magellan, Jacques Cartier and Vasco da Gama. Around this time, the favoured type of boat was a wooden sailing vessel with 3-4 masts. It wasn’t just these explorers who used them but traders and the military.
We can, from here, start to see a much more heavily documented timeline of boats, ships and other forms of water transport. For example, the yacht was developed by the Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries; the Dutch used these fast, light vessels for chasing pirates and criminals as well as for Naval purposes. They were then co-opted by rich ship owners, who would use them for celebratory sail-outs when their ships came back – hence why they are now a symbol of the elite. In 1660, following his restoration to the English throne, Charles II was given a yacht named the Mary by the Dutch, helping to popularise yachting in England.
Because of the growth in trade routes, boats and ships around this time were being constantly developed and improved. They needed to be bigger and stronger, and able to travel for longer periods of time.
The 1800s
In 1818, the Black Ball Line shipping company began offering the first regularly scheduled transatlantic passenger service, between New York City and Liverpool. The company was founded by Quaker merchants and started with four sailing packet ships. It wasn’t particularly popular at first, but by 1822 it was running two crossings per month for 35 guineas per person, and it soon faced competition from rivals such as the Red Star Line. From the 1840s, fast sailing ships called clippers, with long, slim hulls and tall masts, were also being built.
Meanwhile, the first steam-powered ships were able to cross the Atlantic Ocean too. Innovations in the history of water transport were coming thick and fast in the 1800s; in 1845, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain became the first iron-hulled, propeller-driven ship to cross the Atlantic.
It was, however, also around this time that canals became less of a popular way to transport goods and people – this was thanks to the establishment of good working railways.
The 1900s
Again, innovations continued. Diesel engines became an efficient way to power ships, and oil gradually replaced coal and steam. However, steam was still in use for some time alongside the new diesel-powered ships; it was in 1912 when the famous tragedy of the Titanic took place.
The 1900s also saw many new water transport inventions, including hydrofoils, hovercraft (developed by British engineer Christopher Cockerell in the 1950s) and nuclear-powered ships such as the NS Savannah, which sailed for 3.5 years without having to refuel. The 1950s also saw the introduction of container shipping, when American businessman Malcom McLean’s Ideal X carried the first containers in 1956. Container ships allow vast amounts of cargo to be carried in standardised metal boxes, and today the majority of non-bulk cargo is transported this way. According to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), more than 80% of world trade by volume is carried by sea.
Cruise ships also rose to prominence in the 1900s. The first purpose-built cruise ship, the German Prinzessin Victoria Luise, was launched in 1900. However, it wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century, and especially from the 1970s onwards, that cruising became more commonplace and accessible. Modern cruise ships can carry thousands of passengers – Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, which entered service in 2024, can carry more than 7,000 – and feature cinemas, water parks and go-karting tracks alongside a multitude of bars and restaurants. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), around 34.6 million passengers took a cruise in 2024.
The two world wars
Boats and ships played a huge part in both of the world wars, which were two important periods in the history of water transport. Thousands of water transport vessels were used in each war – for battle, for transporting goods to armed forces in different places and so on. During the First World War, German U-boats sank around 5,000 ships, and 178 U-boats were lost. During the Second World War, around 3,500 Allied merchant ships were sunk in the Battle of the Atlantic alone, and 783 U-boats were destroyed.
Individual crossings of the Atlantic Ocean
Ann Davison was the first woman to sail across the Atlantic alone, doing so in 1952. More did so in the 1960s and then, in 1965, Robert Manry made it across without stopping in a sailboat named Tinkerbelle. Later, in 1980, Gérard d’Aboville rowed single-handedly across the Atlantic Ocean – this feat was first accomplished by a woman in 1999, when American Tori Murden rowed solo from the Canary Islands to Guadeloupe.
The history of water transport: To conclude
There is a lot to say about the history of water transport – from the first rudimentary boats to the giant cruise ships of today. Water vehicles have long been used to transport goods and people across bodies of water, and while air and rail transport are now popular for passengers, water transport remains essential for global trade and continues to play an important role in tourism, from ferries and river cruises to ocean cruising.
History of water transport: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about the history of water transport.
What is the oldest known boat?
The oldest known boat is the Pesse canoe, a dugout canoe found in the Netherlands, which was made by hollowing out a tree trunk between around 8200 and 7600 BC.
When was the first transatlantic passenger service?
The Black Ball Line began the first regularly scheduled transatlantic passenger service, between New York and Liverpool, in 1818.
When was the first cruise ship built?
The first purpose-built cruise ship was the German Prinzessin Victoria Luise, launched in 1900.
When were container ships invented?
Container shipping began in 1956, when Malcom McLean’s Ideal X carried containers from New Jersey to Texas. It transformed global trade by making cargo faster and cheaper to load and unload.
How important is water transport today?
Water transport is vital to the world economy, with more than 80% of world trade by volume carried by sea. It is also important for tourism, including cruises, ferries and river cruises.
The history of water transport: Further reading
If you found this article on the history of water transport useful, these articles may also be of interest:
- Types of water transport
- The fascinating story of the first commercial flight
- The fascinating history of tourism
- Components of tourism: Structure of the tourism industry
