Packet (sea transport)
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Packet (sea transport): A Packet service is a regular, scheduled service, carrying valuable freight and first class passengers. The ships used for this service are called Packet ships or Packet Boats, and the seamen Packetmen and the business is called Packet trade.
A Packet service was run by the UK General Post Office, from Tudor times until 1823, using small, fast, lightly armed ships to carry state papers to overseas destinations, using a regular schedule.
This sense became extended to mean any regularly scheduled ship, carrying passengers, as in Packet trade. In this sense, the word "Packet" may be modified by the destination e.g. Sydney Packet, or by motive force e.g. Steam packet.
Packet shipping companies include:
- Baltimore Steam Packet Company
- Black Ball Line (trans-Atlantic packet)
- City of Dublin Steam Packet Company
- Cunard Line
- Isle of Man Steam Packet
- Liverpool Packet
- Woolwich Steam Packet Company
The French language term "Paquebot" derives from the English term "Packet Boat", but means a large ocean liner.
