Tongkang
Encyclopedia
Tongkang or "Tong'kang" was a type of light wooden boat used commonly in the early 19th century to carry goods along rivers in the Malay Archipelago
.
, punt poles and sail
.
The early tongkangs were about 20 ton burthen or less; they were propelled by about ten rowers and guided by a steersman. Long punt poles were used to propel them in shallower water. The size of the tongkang increased around 1860.
The tongkang was one of the two traditional Malay ships using Junk Rig
with local hulls instead of the Chinese Junk
hull. Its hull design was more reminiscent of the dhow
type used in South Asia
and Western Asia than to the common Chinese or Far-eastern type. Besides the Junk Rig, the ketch rig was also used on the tongkang. The last tongkangs in Singapore were towed by a motorised launch.
, where a Chinese
document, refers to the Southern bank around Read Bridge area
, as cha chun tau (柴船头), meaning "jetty
for boats carrying firewood
". Small tongkangs carrying firewood from Indonesia
berthed at this jetty. The firewood trade was primarily a Teochew
enterprise.
Sungei Punggol
(榜鵝河) in Singapore begins as a canal known as "Sungei Tongkang" in Serangoon New Town
before reaching Yio Chu Kang Road. also in reference to those boats.
The steel truss
of Alkaff Bridge
(阿卡夫桥) is shaped like a tongkang in remembrance of this type of boat, so important to the economy of old Singapore. The bridge is 55 metres in length and weighs about 230 tonnes.
A tongkang in full sail appeared on the reverse of the 1990 and 1992 Singapore dollar
2 $ currency notes. Tongkang LRT Station
was named after this boat of historical importance for Singapore.
Another boat used in the Singapore River along with the tongkang was the twakow. These traditional vessels began to disappear around the 1930s, following the introduction of motor-powered boats and contemporary-type lighters
.
Malay Archipelago
The Malay Archipelago refers to the archipelago between mainland Southeastern Asia and Australia. The name was derived from the anachronistic concept of a Malay race....
.
Description
The tongkang was an unmotorised open cargo boat, propelled by a variety of methods, including rowingWatercraft rowing
Watercraft rowing is the act of propelling a boat using the motion of oars in the water. The difference between paddling and rowing is that with rowing the oars have a mechanical connection with the boat whereas with paddling the paddles are hand-held with no mechanical connection.This article...
, punt poles and sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
.
The early tongkangs were about 20 ton burthen or less; they were propelled by about ten rowers and guided by a steersman. Long punt poles were used to propel them in shallower water. The size of the tongkang increased around 1860.
The tongkang was one of the two traditional Malay ships using Junk Rig
Junk Rig
The Junk rig, also known as the Chinese lugsail and Sampan rig, is a type of sail rig in which rigid members, called battens, span the full width of the sail and extend the sail forward of the mast....
with local hulls instead of the Chinese Junk
Junk (ship)
A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages...
hull. Its hull design was more reminiscent of the dhow
Dhow
Dhow is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with lateen sails used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region. Some historians believe the dhow was invented by Arabs but this is disputed by some others. Dhows typically weigh 300 to 500 tons, and have a...
type used in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and Western Asia than to the common Chinese or Far-eastern type. Besides the Junk Rig, the ketch rig was also used on the tongkang. The last tongkangs in Singapore were towed by a motorised launch.
Tongkangs in Singapore
There are references to the activity of these boats in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, where a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
document, refers to the Southern bank around Read Bridge area
Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay is a historical riverside quay in Singapore, located within the Singapore River Planning Area. The quay is situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River and Boat Quay.-Etymology:...
, as cha chun tau (柴船头), meaning "jetty
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
for boats carrying firewood
Firewood
Firewood is any wood-like material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form....
". Small tongkangs carrying firewood from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
berthed at this jetty. The firewood trade was primarily a Teochew
Chaozhou
Chaozhou is a city in eastern Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. It borders Shantou to the south, Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east, and the South China Sea to the southeast...
enterprise.
Sungei Punggol
Sungei Punggol
Sungei Punggol is a river located within the North-East Region in Singapore.-Geography:...
(榜鵝河) in Singapore begins as a canal known as "Sungei Tongkang" in Serangoon New Town
Serangoon New Town
Serangoon New Town is a new town in north-eastern Singapore and bounded by Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, the Central Expressway, Bradell Road, Bartley Road, Upper Paya Lebar Road, Upper Serangoon Road, and Yio Chu Kang Road back to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5...
before reaching Yio Chu Kang Road. also in reference to those boats.
The steel truss
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
of Alkaff Bridge
Alkaff Bridge
Alkaff Bridge is a pedestrian bridge in Singapore. It spans the Singapore River at Robertson Quay, located in the Singapore River planning area within the Central Area, Singapore's Central Business District....
(阿卡夫桥) is shaped like a tongkang in remembrance of this type of boat, so important to the economy of old Singapore. The bridge is 55 metres in length and weighs about 230 tonnes.
A tongkang in full sail appeared on the reverse of the 1990 and 1992 Singapore dollar
Singapore dollar
The Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
2 $ currency notes. Tongkang LRT Station
Tongkang LRT Station
Tongkang LRT station is an LRT station on the Sengkang LRT Line West Loop in Singapore. It was opened in January 2005 together with the Punggol LRT East Loop. It is operated by SBS Transit.-Etymology:...
was named after this boat of historical importance for Singapore.
Another boat used in the Singapore River along with the tongkang was the twakow. These traditional vessels began to disappear around the 1930s, following the introduction of motor-powered boats and contemporary-type lighters
Lighter (barge)
A lighter is a type of flat-bottomed barge used to transfer goods and passengers to and from moored ships. Lighters were traditionally unpowered and were moved and steered using long oars called "sweeps," with their motive power provided by water currents...
.
External links
- Pictures of moored tongkangs and twakows in old Singapore
- Junk and Advanced Cruising Rig Association
- Stephen Dobbs , Urban Redevelopment and the Forced Eviction of Lighters from the Singapore River Causes and impact of the "eviction" of the lighterage industry from the Singapore River in 1983.