Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/94kl4czkpm
Narrower Dubrovnik aquatorium in English maritime pilots from 1811 to 1826
Danijel Dujmić
orcid.org/0000-0002-6452-4562
; Dubrovnik, Croatia
Abstract
The paper analyses data about the waterways of Dubrovnik from the southernmost cape of the Pelješac peninsula, Cape Vratnik to Cape Oštra with the surrounding islands, including the island of Mljet, published in three English works on navigation printed in the first half of the 19th century (1811, 1817 and 1826). These pilots were the forerunners of today's official maritime publications and contained information and instructions for sailing the Adriatic Sea, or the Gulf of Venice as the Adriatic Sea was then called, and were used as a supplement to nautical charts. The Adriatic was described as part of the Mediterranean in the analysed pilots, i.e., its more minor and lesser important role. Therefore, the number of pages dedicated to navigation in the Adriatic Sea was relatively small. The information and instructions presented in the mentioned pilots for the Dubrovnik waterways from the southernmost cape of the Pelješac peninsula, cape Vratnik to cape Oštra with the surrounding islands, including the island of Mljet, were analysed in detail and compared with the actual situation according to relevant historical sources and nautical charts, as well as contemporary Croatian nautical charts and publications published by the Croatian Hydrographic Institute. This determined the accuracy and reliability of the published data and their aberration from the actual situation. From today's perspective, the information in the analysed maritime guides is very scarce and deficient and often wrong. However, in the first half of the 19th century, pilot books were often the only available information about many parts of the world, then considered peripheral. The Adriatic Sea was one of such "peripheral" parts of the world since it did not represent an important maritime area during the first half of the 19th century. All three analysed pilots followed the practice of the time. The already existing charts and publications were used to print new ones, reprinted with little or no change and without further research. At the same time, it took a more extended period for specific information to be corrected or updated, while some remained unchanged for decades. Overall, for navigating the Dubrovnik waterways from Cape Vratnik to Cape Oštra with the surrounding islands, including the island of Mljet, the most helpful pilot book was The New Mediterranean Pilot from 1817 by J. W. Norie. It contained some credible information that served as a valuable supplement to the then nautical charts.
Keywords
maritime publications; maritime pilots; Dubrovnik waterways; 19th century; Adriatic Sea
Hrčak ID:
268211
URI
Publication date:
23.12.2021.
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