Development of New Steamships and History of the Shipping Industry in the Kingdom of the two Sicilies (1816-1861)

Abstract

This paper aims at explaining the development of new Neapolitan steamships that started in 1816 by a French merchant, Pierre Andriel. At the same time it outlines the development of the Neapolitan fleet and of the shipyards of Naples and Castellammare, which played an important role in the overall social and political reorganization of Southern Italy. In 1840 the factory of Pietrarsa was built. And in 1851, the steam frigate Ettore Fieramosca, with a steam engine from Pietrarsa, was finally assembled in Castellammare: at last, the kingdom started to build its own ships entirely in situ.