Tramp steamer

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A tramp steamer, or tramp for short, is any ship which does not have a fixed schedule or published ports of call. (As opposed to freight liners), tramp ships trade on the spot market with no fixed schedule or itinerary/ports-of-call(s). Steamers are infrequently seen today, as steam has largely been replaced by diesel engines -- which can be operated more economically. Because of this the term tramp freighter is sometimes used.

The term is derived from an old meaning of "tramp" as itinerant beggar or vagrant, and is first documented in the 1880s, along with "ocean tramp" (at the time many sailing vessels engaged in irregular trade as well).

[edit] References

• "Tramp" (5.a.) Oxford English Dictionary