Steamboat

A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a boat or vessel that is propelled by steam power driving a propeller or paddlewheel. The term steamboat is usually used to refer to smaller steam-powered boats working on lakes and rivers, particularly riverboats in the USA; steamship generally refers to steam powered ships capable of carrying a (ship's) boat. Nuclear powered ships and submarines use steam to drive turbines, but are not referred to as steamships or steamboats.

Ocean steamships

The side-wheel paddle steamer SS Great Western was the first purpose-built steamship to initiate regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic crossings, starting in 1838. The first regular steamship service from the west to the east coast of the United States began on February 28, 1849 with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay. The California left New York Harbor on October 6, 1848, rounded Cape Horn at the tip of South America, and arrived at San Francisco, California after the 4-month, 21-day journey. The SS Great Eastern was built in 1854–1857 with the intent of linking Great Britain with India, via the Cape of Good Hope without coaling stops; it would know a turbulent history, and was never put to its intended use.

Related Topics:
SS ''Great Western'' - United States - February 28 - 1849 - SS ''California'' - San Francisco Bay - New York Harbor - October 6 - 1848 - Cape Horn - South America - San Francisco, California - SS ''Great Eastern'' - 1854 - 1857 - India - Cape of Good Hope

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By 1870, a number of inventions, such as the screw propeller and the triple expansion engine made trans-oceanic shipping economically viable. This began the earliest era of globalization where trade around the world became cheap and safe.

Related Topics:
1870 - Screw propeller - Triple expansion engine - Globalization

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The RMS Titanic was the largest steamship in the world when it sank in 1912. Launched in 1938, the RMS Queen Elizabeth was the largest passenger steamship ever built. Launched in 1969, the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) was the last passenger steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean before it was converted to diesel engines in 1986.

Related Topics:
RMS ''Titanic'' - RMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' - RMS ''Queen Elizabeth 2''

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The SS Explorer is the last remaining steam trawler in Britain. She was built in Aberdeen, including the last steam engine built there, and was launched in 1955 as a fishery research vessel. Accommodation was provided for researchers, including a computer cabin. Currently she is berthed at Edinburgh Dock, Leith, by Edinburgh, and the subject of a restoration project.

Related Topics:
SS ''Explorer'' - Leith - Edinburgh

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The turbine steamship Royal Yacht Britannia, now retired from service, is berthed nearby at Ocean Terminal, Leith.

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