Convict ship

A convict ship, as used to convey convicts to the British colonies in America, the Caribbean and Australian Colonies, were ordinary British merchant ships as seen in ports around the world at that time.

Vessels chartered for convict transport were mainly square rigged ships or barques, with the exception of a few brigs, the majority being small to moderate tonnage.

[2] English Parliamentary records indicate that the average rate paid by the government to hire a ship for convict service in 1816 was £6 1s 9d per vessel ton (equivalent to £590 in 2023), with tonnages typically between 372 and 584.

[4] Following serious outbreaks of disease with high mortality rates on board some early convict ship voyages, from 1801 voyages were subject to more strict regulation by the British government in terms of provisions and medical support.

[5] There were four serious shipwrecks concerning convict ships to Australia - Amphitrite on the coast of France, George III on the south-east coast of Tasmania, Neva off King Island in Bass Strait and Waterloo in Table Bay, South Africa.