Speronara

The speronara (Maltese: xprunara, French: spéronare) was a type of small merchant craft originating from Malta which was used in the Mediterranean from the 16th to the early 20th centuries.

In some cases, the boats were also used for fishing, corsairing or as gunboats, with the French Navy's Calypso-class spéronares being examples of the latter.

[2] During the period of Hospitaller rule in Malta, speronaras were exclusively named after Christian saints.

In the 19th century, speronaras were constructed by shipbuilders in the Grand Harbour's French Creek.

[1] Speronaras usually departed from the Grand Harbour or St Paul's Bay, and they commonly carried passengers and merchandise between Malta and Sicily.

[2] Before there was an organised postal service, masters of speronaras might carry private correspondence for a fee.

[3] Speronaras also made short trips to Gozo, and longer voyages to other Mediterranean destinations such as Naples, Reggio Calabria, Rome, Livorno, Genoa, Marseille, and ports in Spain.

In 1618, three speronaras were pressed into service alongside the Order's galleys to participate in an attack against enemy ships in Susa.

[1] The French Navy occasionally built or acquired speronaras, arming them and using them as gunboats.