Through more than half of the 19th century and into the early years of the 20th century, steam ships coexisted with sailing vessels. Initially, steam was only viable on shorter routes, typically transporting passengers who could afford higher fares and mail. Steam went through many developmental steps that gave greater fuel efficiency, thereby increasingly making steamships commercially competitive with sail. Screw propulsion, which relied, among other things, on the invention of an effective stern gland for the propeller shaft, worked better than paddle wheels. Higher boiler pressures of powering compound engines, were introduced in 1865, making long-distance steam cargo vessels commercially viable on the route from England to Chinaeven before the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Within a few years, steam had replaced many of the sailing ships that had served this route. Even greater fuel efficiency was obtained with triple-expansion steam enginesbut this had to wait for higher quality steel to be available to make boilers running at in SS Aberdeen (1881). By this point virtually all routes could be served competitively by steamships. Sail continued with some cargoes, where low costs were more important to the shipper than a predictable and rapid journey time.
Through more than half of the 19th century and into the early years of the 20th century, steam ships coexisted with sailing vessels. Initially, steam was only viable on shorter routes typically transporting passengers who could afford higher fares and mail. Steam went through many developmental steps that gave greater fuel efficiency, thereby increasingly making steamships commercially competitive with sail. Screw propulsion, which relied, among other things, on the invention of an effective stern gland for the propeller shaft, worked better than paddle wheels. Higher boiler pressures of powering compound engines, were introduced in 1865, making long-distance steam cargo vessels commercially viable on the route from England to Chinaeven before the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Within a few years, steam had replaced many of the sailing ships that had, served this route. Even greater fuel efficiency was obtained with triple-expansion steam enginesbut this had to wait for higher quality steel to be available to make boilers running at in SS Aberdeen (1881). By this point virtually all routes could be served competitively by steamships. Sail continued with some cargoes, where low costs were more important to the shipper than a predictable and rapid journey time.