A history of Suffolk shipping

Suffolk is almost surrouned by waters. To the north are the rivers Waveney and Little Ouse, to the west the river Lark, to the south the river Stour, and to the east the North Sea. In the heyday of the North East coal trade, hundreds of sailing colliers negotiated the complex of shoals off the Suffolk coast, and the lighthouses at Lowestoft and Orford were welcome beacons on their passages. Today, the coastal trade is much reduced. The coal trade has gone and has been replaced by traffic in furl, oil, petrol and diesel from the refineries of local distribution depots. On the other hand, bulk cargoes such as grain, stone and timber are still carried by coaster. There are also new trades such as delivery of steel plate and coastal container services. Suffolk Shipping covers just some of the wide range of vessels that have been a part of the maritime scenery of the county for the past two millennia.