- Packet (sea transport)
Packet (sea transport): A Packet service is a regular, scheduled service, carrying freight and passengers. The ships used for this service are called
Packet ship s or Packet Boats, the seamen Packetmen and the business is calledPacket 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 "" derives from the English term "Packet Boat", but means a large ocean liner.
ee also
Packet trade
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