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Oct 5, 1570
Early 16th Century Boats
During the 16th century, there was a ship that dominated the seas for some time, it was called the Spanish Carrack. It had unusually high castles in bow and stern. In 1570, John Hawkins discovers that this design hampers sailing, and he started to experiment with ideas of his own. He proved that a ship with a high stern and low bow is more manuverable and faster. In this way, he is able to dramatically improve the English fleet. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupi -
The Steam Engine
Thomas Newcomen was the first person to invent a practical steam engine. It consisted of a piston and a huge piece of wood. This version of the steam engine was used for 50 years, until 1765, when James Watt made minor improvements on it. He came up with the idea of using a separate condenser and a bigger piston to reduce the amount of energy needed. http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/custom-manufacturing -
Steam Boat
Soon after James Watt came up with an improved steam engine, inventors saw the possibility of using a steam engine to power boats. John Fitch started the era of the steamboat when he successfuly sailed a forty five foot long steamboat acroos the Delaware River. Members of the Constitutional Convention were present during this trial. He later on built larger vessels cabaple of carrying and transporting passengers. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamship.htm -
Improvement of the Steam Engine
Oliver Evans revolutionized the steam engine by coming up with a design that used steam to power an engine instead of creating a vaccum. It was the first non-condensing and high pressure steam engine, and also it was stationary and capable of producing 30 RPM. This designed was used to power boats and in railways. They were backed up by huge cylindrical tanks filled with water. http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/custom-manufacturing-fabricating/steam-engine-history -
The Alburkah
Macgregor Laird designed an iron paddle steamer, the Alburkah, which is capable of reaching its destination on its own. This particular ship traveled from Milford Haven to the Niger River. The ship reaches its destination 3 months later, making it the first ocean-going iron ship. This event was a huge contribution to the development of iron ships. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=111&HistoryID=aa14>rack=pthc -
Invention of the Steam Turbine
Charles Parsons patened his turbine engine and uses it to drive an electrical generator. He realized the need of a machine that could convert steam power into electricity. He became a junior partner in the firm Clarke, Chapman and Parsons, which is the time when heinvented his first multistage reaction turbine. http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventors/a/Charles_Parsons.htm http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventors/a/Charles_Parsons.htm -
Modern Day Cruise Ships
Albert Ballin is the father of modern day cruising. He sent his first ship, the Augusta Victoria, on a Mediterranean cruise. He travels as the host and the voyage was a huge success. He also diversifies by concentrating more on freight than just passengers. http://cruiselinehistory.com/albert-ballin-inventor-and-father-of-the-pleasure-cruise/ -
The Mauretania
The Mauretania was the first passenger vessel powered by steam turbines. It was a British liner built by the Cunrad steamship company. The ship´s turbines produced 70,000 horsepower and propelled the ship to speeds over 30 miles per hour. They burned over 1000 tons of coal per day in the boilers to fuel this massive ship. http://classroom.synonym.com/steamships-early-1900s-17582.html -
SS Norway
The SS Norway was previously known as the SS France, which was a ship used for transportation. But faster methods of transportation were emerging, such as jet liners, which could transport the same amount of people as an average ship, only it could do it twice as fast. With these new transports, the SS France went out of business. It ws purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line, and was then used as a cruise ship. This type of events made cruising the primary activity of ships. people.hofstra.edu
