Changes in Maritime Labour in Greece During the Transition from Sail to Steam, c. 1850–1917

In Greek maritime history, the growth of the merchant shipping industry during the nineteenth century has been mostly examined from the perspective of business networks, markets and maritime communities, in relation to the shipbuilding sector and the role of the state, but almost never from the scope of labour and of labour relations. This essay presents a general outlook of maritime labour in the Greek-owned fleet from the 1850s to the beginning of the twentieth century, a period that coincides with the further use of steamers in transport in the eastern Mediterranean and the transition from sail to steam navigation for the cargo fleet in Greece. The authors’ interest revolves around the question of the composition and geographical distribution of maritime workers in the Greek state, the size and the composition of crews, remuneration and wages in the merchant fleet. Therefore, this essay examines the effects that the process of transition to steamships had on the traditional maritime communities and on working conditions on board. The research is based on cross-referencing quantitative and qualitative data from state’s reports (Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Finance, Greek Seamen’s Pension Fund) on the population movement, the employment of maritime workers and other professional groups, as well as on the payrolls of sailing ships and steamships.