Slave trade: “Middle Passage” slave ship

Slave ships were cargo vessels converted to transport slaves from Africa to the Americas. To achieve high profits, ship owners divided the hull into between decks to fit in as many slaves as possible. Sanitation was practically non-existent and mortality rates were high


Atlantic Ocean

Middle Passage: Transatlantic trip took one to five months depending on wind and weather conditions


RESTRAINT

Restraining slaves minimised chance of rebellion and suicide. Uprising perceived not only as threat to ship’s crew, but also to profit

Wrist shackles

U-shaped ankle shackles

Male captives: Often joined in pairs by iron shackles

Women and children: Kept separate from men, often exposed to sexual abuse by ship’s crew

Men often laid head to toe to save space

SLAVE CAPTAINS’ OPTIONS

Loose packers: Carried fewer slaves in order to minimise sickness and death

Tight packers: Completely filled ship in hope that increased load would offset deaths and result in healthy profit


FRENCH SLAVE SHIP L’AURORE, 1784 
Length: 31m 
Height: 37.8m
Displacement: 500 tonnes
Crew: 45  
Slaves: 600-650 

Poop deck
Mizzenmast
Poultry coop
Mainmast

Food: 50 tonnes (crew), 25 tonnes (slaves) 
Drinking water: 140,000 litres

Main deck partition: Wooden wall topped with metal spikes protected crew in case of revolt by captives

Nets: Stopped slaves jumping overboard

Cat-o’-nine-tails: Multi-tailed whip used to beat and humiliate slaves

Foremast
Forecastle deck
Cathead 
Bowsprit
Figurehead 
Waterline
Stores in hold
Crew cabins
Captain’s cabin


Stern
Waist
Bow
Anchor rope


TRANSPORT OF SLAVES 
Between deck:
1 Children	20 
2 Women		50
3 Men		120 

Lower deck:
4 Children 	60 
5 Women 	70 
6 Men 		280

1 2 3 4 5 6


Sources: Mariners’ Museum, Traite et navire négrier L’Aurore, 1784, by Jean Boudriot
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