Description
The Maltese tartana proved its worth over a period of three centuries when it was employed mainly as a merchant ship sailing throughout the Mediterranean, summer and winter. It was built regularly in Malta with great success and as it was a medium sized merchant ship it was employed by a good number of local padroni on a family basis. After 1700 the tartana was employed mainly in on the western Mediterranean trade routes as far as Spain and Lisbon in Portugal. As a loaded with biscuits and other previsions. There was the tartana whoch was specifically prepared for regular transportation of corn, live stock, coal and brushwood from Sicily for the Universita in Malta. When necessary the tartan was armed fot the corso and for escort duties to the other tartanas conveying various types of merchandise for the Order. This lateen-rigged merchant ship disappeared from Malta in the 19th cwntury with the introduction of newly projected merchant ships.
Joseph Muscat is a maritime historian who has specialized in the naval activities of the Order of St John. His writings have appeared in numerous local and foreign publications.
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