Mail boats or postal boats are a boat or ship used for the delivery of mail, and sometimes transportation of goods, people and vehicles, in communities where bodies of water commonly separate settlements, towns or cities, often where bridges are not available.[1] They are also used where water transport is more efficient or cost effective, or other means of transport to the destination is impractical, even when roads or flights may be another option.
Nearly any type or size of boat or ship may be used as a mail boat or ship. The size of the boat may be determined by the needs of the communities it serves, or by environmental factors which may influence the boats design for protection of crew, passengers, and items for transport, or requiring lesser draft for shallower waters.
Sometimes a mail jumper jumps off the boat to exchange inbound and outbound mail while the mail boat continues slow movement rather than docking.[2]
Modern day use[edit]
Mail boats are still in use for some communities[3][4][5] and may become tourist attractions, or a means of slow travel[6] while still serving the purpose of mail transit.[7]
The inter-island commerce of some countries depend heavily on mail boat services.[8][9] In these areas the mail boat may be large enough to carry a number of vehicles including tractor-trailers.[citation needed]
See also[edit]
- Dispatch boat
- Packet boat
- Royal Mail Ship, ships authorized by the British Royal Mail to courier mail across bodies of water, from one nautical postal depot to another
References[edit]
- ^ "Early Cape Coral: Mail delivery first came to area by boat". The News-Press. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ Barrett, Joe (2016-06-10). "Mail Boat Couriers Spring Into Summer". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ SIMMONS-RITCHIE, DANIEL (2013-01-14). "Mail boat still a lifeline for some Oregon residents". KVAL. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ Stratton, Mark. "Bahamas by mail boat: Can this unique tradition survive?". CNN. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ Finley, Ben. "Protected by seclusion, Tangier Island in Chesapeake Bay keeps eye on virus from afar". pilotonline.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- ^ Amazing Boat Journeys. Lonely Planet. 2019-10-01. ISBN 978-1-78868-700-3.
- ^ Rackl, Lori. "A century old, Lake Geneva's mail boat delivers first-class fun". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ "Supplies, income fear over Bimini lockdown". www.tribune242.com. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ Williams, Gisela (May 13, 2020). "Search for Birds of Paradise in Indonesia, and You'll Find So Much More". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
