The Malta shipyard : infrastructural developments during the 18th century

Abstract

In 1701 the Hospitaller and Military Order of St John, which had been based in Malta since 1530, completely re-organised its navy by reducing its galley squadron from seven to four units and by concurrently founding a new squadron of four sailing ships-of-the-line. This remarkable development in the navy of the Order called for the building of more adequate docks and shipyards in the Grand Harbour of Malta, where new vessels could be constructed and old ones repaired. It demanded bigger arsenals, powder-magazines, and more spacious stores to supply the new squadron with the necessary equipment and the crews with victuals, arms, and clothing2. A modern and well-equipped base for shipbuilding, ship repair and rearmament required three qualities – proper logistics, an infrastructure which included adequate stores, and an organised workforce of capable administrators and industrious and efficient craftsmen. The present article focuses on the first two requirements.