The Maltese tartana

Abstract

The Maltese tartana proved its worth over a period of three centuries when it was employed mainly as a merchant ship sailing throughout the Mediterranean, summer and winter. It was built regularly in Malta with great success and as it was a medium sized merchant ship it was employed by a good number of local padroni on a family basis. After 1700 the tartana was employed mainly on the western Mediterranean trade routes as far as Spain and Lisbon in Portugal. As a support ship it accompanied the galley squadron of the Order loaded with biscuits and other provisions. There was the tartana which was specifically prepared for the regular transportation of corn, live stock, coal and brushwood from Sicily for the Universita in Malta. When necessary the tartana was armed for the corso and for escort duties to other tartanas conveying various types of merchandise for the Order. This lateen-rigged merchant ship disappeared from Malta in the 19th century with the introduction of newly projected merchant ships.