Tongkang

Type of small boat in Southeast Asia

Old picture of a moored tongkang

Tongkang or "Tong'kang"[1] refers to several type of boats used to carry goods along rivers and shoreline in Maritime Southeast Asia.[2] One of the earliest record of tongkang has a background of 14th century, being mentioned in Malay Annals which was composed no earlier than 17th century. One passage mentioned it as being used by Majapahit empire during the 1350 attack on Singapura.[3]

## Etymology[edit]

Because the majority of tongkangs were built, used, and manned by Chinese people, it is frequently assumed that the name was Chinese word. In fact, "tongkang" is certainly a Malay word, and probably derived from bělongkang (properly përahu bèlongkang, a pěrahu jalur with strakes added to increase the freeboard), a word which was formerly used in Sumatra for a river cargo boat.[2]: 85

## Description[edit]

The tongkang was an unmotorised open cargo boat, propelled by a variety of methods, including rowing, 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.[4]

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.[5] The last tongkangs in Singapore were towed by a motorised launch.

## Types of tongkang[edit]

Because the term "tongkang" is applied to several type of boats, the description of each boat is not necessarily the same.

### Malaya[edit]

1. Tamil-manned lighter, brought to Singapore in the 1820s.Sketch of a Singapore lighter, with trailing mainsail, stern-side view. Ca. 1902.
2. The old Singapore sailing lighter. Originally the Tamil-manned lighter, brought to Singapore in the 1820s. Later a western-style lighter hull, double-ended, usually with a single mast setting a large loose-footed dipping lugsail, and frequently manned by Chinese. These latter boats still survive, but they are no longer propelled by sails.
3. Tongkang tunda, meaning "towed tongkang". European-style lighter hull, double-ended, usually with a single mast setting a large loose-footed dipping lugsail, and frequently manned by Chinese. These boats still survive, but they are no longer propelled by sails. Hull length is 50–80 feet (15–24 m).
4. Tongkang Melayu, manned by Malays. Typically a double-ended lighter hull, ketch-rigged with standing gaffs and two headsails. No stern gallery and a western style rudder. Some had transom sterns. The hull length is 30–75 feet (9.1–22.9 m).
5. Penang sailing lighter. Western-style lighter hull, with a transom stern and 1 mast with a large loose-footed dipping lugsail and a single headsail, or a bermuda-headed mainsail and one headsail. Formerly also double-ended, generally with 2 masts, setting a large lugsail on the mainmast. No stern gallery and a western style rudder. Normally manned by men from southern India. Hull length is 50–80 feet (15–24 m).Sketch of a tongkang in Singapore roads, 1906.
6. Singapore timber tongkang. A heavy, wide hull with a transom stern, 2 masts and with a long bowsprit. They are ketch-rigged with standing gaffs, no topsails, two or three headsails. A stern gallery and Chinese rudder. Manned by Chinese. Hull length is 85–95 feet (26–29 m).A Singapore trader (Tongkang), lightly laden, under full sail. Singapore Strait, January, 1950.
7. Singapore trader: General purpose trading boat, now used mostly for carrying firewood. Hull similar to Singapore timber tongkang, but less beamy: stepping two or three masts, each setting a single highpeaked Chinese junk sail. Manned by Chinese. Hull length: 40–85 feet (12–26 m).

### Brunei[edit]

1. Tongkang. Manned by Malays. Medium-sized, double-ended cargo boat, decked fore and aft, with a deckhouse amidship. It has a stern gallery and 1 mast, setting a square-sail or a dipping lug. Built at Sepitang and Brunei. The local cargo-carrier of Labuan Bay, occasionally found as far north as Jesselton. Hull length: 30–40 feet (9.1–12.2 m).

### North Borneo[edit]

1. Tongkang Melayu. Western-style hull with transom stern, had 1 or 2 masts, each setting a large dipping lugsail. No bowsprit, usually one headsail. Steered with an unpierced rudder. This boat, which is used for collecting firewood in Sandakan Bay, is very similar to the transom-stern Penang Lighter in broad outline, though rather beamier. It is made by Banjars (Malays) on Nunuyan Laut Island, in Sandakan Bay. Hull length: 40–50 feet (12–15 m).
2. Tongkang China. The name used in the North Borneo ports for visiting Chinese junks (usually arriving from Hongkong).

## Tongkangs in Singapore[edit]

Twakow loading lubricant oil in Singapore

There are references to the activity of these boats in Singapore, 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 the Indonesian archipelago berthed at this jetty. The firewood trade was primarily a Teochew enterprise.

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.

Another boat used on 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.[6]

## See also[edit]

* Junk Rig
* Tongkang Pechah
* Sampan panjang
* Jong

## References[edit]

1. ^ Tong'kang
2. ^ a b Gibson-Hill, C. A. (August 1952). "Tongkang and Lighter Matters". Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 25: 84–110 - via JSTOR.
3. ^ Nugroho, Irawan Djoko (2011). Majapahit Peradaban Maritim. Suluh Nuswantara Bakti. p. 271, 399–400, quoting Sejarah Melayu, 5.4: 47: "Maka betara Majapahitpun menitahkan hulubalangnya berlengkap perahu akan menyerang Singapura itu, seratus buah jung; lain dari itu beberapa melangbing dan kelulus, jongkong, cerucuh, tongkang, tiada terhisabkan lagi banyaknya." (So the king of Majapahit ordered his war commander to equip vessels for attacking Singapore, a hundred jong; other than that a few melangbing and kelulus; jongkong, cerucuh, tongkang all in uncountable numbers.)
4. ^ Stephen Dobbs, Tongkang, twakow, and lightermen: a people's history of the Singapore River. Sojourn. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Singapore. Vol. 9. No. 2. 1994. pp. 269-76.
5. ^ H. Warington Smyth, Mast & Sail in Europe & Asia, Chapter 10
6. ^ Stephen Dobbs, The Singapore River, Appendix 1 - "Lighter craft of the Singapore River"

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tongkang.

* 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.

* v
* t
* e

Austronesian ships

Ship types

| Taiwan|

| Kavalan|

* Mangka

|

Thao|

* Ruza

Tao|

* Ipanitika
* Tatara

Island
Southeast Asia|

| Brunei|

* Bajak
* Bangkong
* Gubang
* Jong
* Kakap
* Penjajap
* Tongkang

|

Indonesia|

* Abak
* Bagan
* Bago
* Bajak
* Bangkong
* Banting
* Benawa
* Borobudur ship
* Cerucuh
* Chialoup
* Eloha
* Fakatora
* Ghali
* Ghurab
* Golekan
* Janggolan
* Jellore
* Jong
* Jongkong
* Juanga
* Jukung
* Jukung tambangan
* Kakap
* Kalulis
* Kelulus
* Kolay
* Kolekole
* Knabat bogolu
* Kora kora
* Kotta mara
* K'un-lun po
* Lancang
* Lancaran
* Lepa
* Lepa-Lepa
* Leti leti
* Lis-alis
* Londe
* Malangbang
* Mayang
* Orembai
* Padewakang
* Paduwang
* Pajala
* Paledang
* Penjajap
* Pangkur
* Patorani
* Pelang
* Pencalang
* Perahu
* Pinisi
* Lambo
* Palari
* Sampan panjang
* Sandeq
* Sarua
* Sekong
* Solu
* Teneh
* Tongkang
* Toop

Malaysia|

* Bajak
* Bangkong
* Banting
* Bedar
* Buggoh
* Birau
* Cerucuh
* Ghali
* Ghurab
* Jong
* Juanga
* Kakap
* Kolek
* Lancang
* Lancaran
* Lepa
* Pelang
* Pencalang
* Penjajap
* Perahu payang
* Perahu tambangan
* Pinas
* Sampan panjang
* Tongkang

Moken|

* Kabang

Philippines|

* Armadahan
* Avang
* Awang
* Balación
* Balangay (Barangay)
* Baloto
* Bangka
* Bangka anak-anak
* Basnigan
* Batil
* Bigiw
* Bilo
* Birau
* Biray
* Biroko (Birok, Bidok)
* Buggoh
* Casco
* Chinarem
* Chinedkeran
* Dinahit
* Djenging (Balutu)
* Falua
* Garay
* Guilalo
* Juanga
* Junkun
* Junkung
* Karakoa
* Kulibo
* Lanong
* Lapis
* Lepa (Kumpit, Pidlas)
* Ontang
* Owong
* Panineman
* Pasaplap
* Pangayaw
* Paraw
* Salambaw
* Salisipan
* Sapyaw
* Seberen
* Tapake
* Tataya
* Tempel
* Tilimbao (Tinimbao)
* Tiririt (Buti)
* Vinta (Dapang, Pilang)

Singapore|

* Sampan panjang
* Tongkang

Island
Melanesia|

| Admiralty Islands|

* Endrol
* Kel

|

Fiji|

* Camakau
* Drua (Waqa tabu)
* Takia

Green Islands|

* Kǒp
* Tsǐne

Papua New Guinea|

* Lakatoi

Solomon Islands|

* Binabina
* Lisi (Solima)
* Tepukei
* Tomako (Mon, Ora)

Vanuatu|

* Aka
* Angga
* Wangga

Micronesia|

| Caroline Islands|

* Wa
* Waserak

|

Kiribati|

* Baurua

Marshall Islands|

* Korkor
* Tipnol
* Walap

Northern Marianas|

* Duding
* Duduli
* Galaideʻ (Agaraide)
* Ladjak
* Lelek
* Panga
* Sakman (Flying proa)

Palau|

* Kaep
* Wa

Yap|

* Chugpin
* Popow
* Wa

Polynesia|

| Cook Islands|

* Vaka
* Vaka katea

|

Hawaii|

* Mālia
* Waʻa
* Waʻa kaulua

Marquesas|

* Vaka touʻua

New Zealand|

* Waka
* Waka hourua
* Waka taua
* Waka tīwai

Samoa|

* ʻalia
* Amatasi
* Fautasi
* Laʻau
* Lualua (Foulua)
* Paopao
* Vaʻa
* Vaʻa-alo
* Vaʻa-tele

Society Islands|

* Ivahah
* Pahi
* Tipairua
* Vaʻa

Tonga|

* Hamatafua
* Kalia
* Pōpao
* Tongiaki

Tuvalu|

* Paopao

Madagascar|

| Malagasy|

* Lakana

|

Sakalava|

* Laka fiara

Ipanitika

Hōkūleʻa

Paraw

Padewakang

Ship construction & sailing

| Rigging|

* Crab claw sail
* Junk rig
* Pinisi rig
* Tanja sail

|

Hull|

* Catamaran
* Lashed-lug boat
* Multihull
* Outrigger
* Outrigger boat
* Polynesian multihull terminology
* Proa
* Sewn boat
* Trimaran

Navigation|

* Fealofani Bruun
* Hipour
* List of Māori waka
* Makassan contact with Australia
* Māori migration canoes
* Marshall Islands stick chart
* Mau Piailug
* Polynesian navigation
* Rapwi
* Weriyeng
* Yapese navigation

Trade|

* Austronesian maritime trade network
* Hiri trade cycle
* Kula ring
* Lapita trade network
* Lingling-o
* Maritime Silk Road
* Sa Huynh-Kalanay Interaction Sphere
* Sepik Coast exchange
* Spice trade
* Trepanging

Archaeology|

* Balangay (Butuan boats)
* Borobudur ship
* Cirebon shipwreck

Other|

* Apilan
* Burulan
* Daramba
* Kota mara

Ship replicas

| Cook Islands|

* Maire Nui
* Marumaru Atua
* Tākitimu
* Te Au o Tonga

|

Federated States of Micronesia|

* Halametaw
* Quest
* Sailoam

French Polynesia|

* Faʻafaite
* Tahiti Nui

Guam|

* Saina

Hawaii|

* Alingano Maisu
* Hawaiʻiloa
* Hikianalia
* Hōkūleʻa
* Hokualakai
* Iosepa
* Makali'i

Indonesia|

* Alfred Wallace
* Hati Marege
* Nur Al Marege
* Samudra Raksa
* Spirit of Majapahit

Malaysia|

* Naga Pelangi

New Zealand|

* Aotearoa One
* Haunui
* Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti
* Pūmaiterangi
* Te Aurere

Philippines|

* Balatik
* Diwata ng Lahi
* Lahi ng Maharlika
* Masawa Hong Butuan
* Sama Tawi-Tawi
* Sarimanok
* Sultan sin Sulu

Samoa|

* Gaualofa

* See also:
* Lapita culture
* Domesticated plants and animals of Austronesia

* v
* t
* e

Types of sailing vessels and rigs

Overviews|

* Age of Sail
* Maritime history
* Age of Discovery
* Navigation

Sailing rigs|

* Bermuda rig
* Crab claw
* Fore-and-aft rig
* Gaff rig
* Gunter rig
* Junk rig
* Lateen rig
* Ljungström rig
* Lug rig
* Mast aft rig
* Pinisi rig
* Square rig
* Tanja rig

By sailing rigs|

* Barque
* Barquentine
* Brig
* Brigantine
* Catboat
* Cutter
* Full-rigged ship
* Jackass-barque
* Ketch
* Mistico
* Schooner
* Sloop
* Snow
* Yawl

Multihull vessels|

* ʻalia
* Amatasi
* Baurua
* Bigiw
* Camakau
* Catamaran
* Drua
* Guilalo
* Jukung
* Kaep
* Kalia
* Karakoa
* Kora kora
* Lakatoi
* Lanong
* Outrigger canoe
* Pahi
* Paraw
* Pentamaran
* Proa
* Quadrimaran
* Takia
* Tepukei
* Tipairua
* Tongiaki
* Trimaran
* Ungalawa
* Va'a-tele
* Vaka katea
* Vinta
* Wa

Naval and merchant
sailing ships
and other vessels
(by origin date)|

| Ancient|

* Balangay
* Boita
* Borobudur ship
* Dhow
* Fire ship
* Galley
* Penteconter
* Bireme
* Trireme
* Quadriremes
* Tessarakonteres
* Dromon
* Junk
* K'un-lun po
* Lepa
* Mtepe
* Uru

|

Post-classical|

* Balinger
* Benawa
* Birlinn
* Bomb vessel
* Cog
* Hulk
* Jong
* Knarr
* Koch
* Kondura
* Longship
* Malangbang
* Shitik
* Tongkang
* Zabra

15th c.|

* Carrack
* Chinese treasure ship
* Caravel
* Ghurab
* Lancaran
* Hoy
* Trabaccolo

16th c.|

* Crommesteven
* Galiot
* Galleon
* Galleass
* Ghali
* Flyboat
* Fluyt
* Full-rigged pinnace
* Lorcha
* Man-of-war
* Manchua
* Patache
* Speronara
* Square-rigged caravel (round or de armada)
* Xebec

17th c.|

* Bermuda sloop
* Corvette
* East Indiaman
* Frigate
* Galeas
* Koff
* Pink
* Polacca
* Ship of the line

18th c.|

* Bilander
* Chialoup
* Clipper (Baltimore Clipper)
* Gallivat
* Garay
* Grab
* Gundalow
* Lanong
* Padewakang
* Post ship
* 74-gun
* Ship of the line
* Sloop-of-war
* Toop
* Trincadour

19th c.|

* Blackwall frigate
* Down Easter
* Golekan
* Iron-hulled sailing ship
* Warship
* Janggolan
* Lambo
* Leti leti
* Palari
* Tamar
* West Country
* Windjammer

20th c.|

* Montagu whaler

Fishing vessels|

* Bagan
* Bago
* Barca-longa
* Falkuša
* Felucca
* Fifie
* Gableboat
* Herring buss
* Jangada
* Jukung
* Lugger
* Masula
* Mayang
* Patorani
* Nordland
* Sixareen
* Sgoth
* Smack
* Tartane
* Well smack
* Yoal

Recreational vessels|

* Dinghy
* Ljungström sailboat
* Mast aft rig
* Pocket cruiser
* Sailing hydrofoil
* Sailing yacht
* Sportsboat
* Trailer sailer
* Wharrams
* Windsurfer
* Yacht

Special terms|

* Inflatable
* Lashed lug
* Razee
* Sewn
* Tall ship
* Treenailed
* ULDB

Other types|

* Bristol Channel pilot cutter
* Floating restaurant
* Fusta
* Mersey flat
* Norfolk punt
* Norfolk wherry
* Pausik
* Pinnace (ship's boat)
* Pram
* Scow
* Thames sailing barge
* Wherry

Related|

* Nautical operations

* v
* t
* e

Indonesian traditional vessels and sails

Type of sails and rigging|

* Junk sail
* Lete sail
* Nade sail
* Pinisi rig
* Tanja sail

Naval & merchant
vessels
(by origin date)|

| Ancient|

* Borobudur ship
* Cerucuh
* Jong
* K'un-lun po
* Lancang
* Perahu
* Sampan

|

14th c.|

* Benawa
* Ghurab
* Jongkong
* Kelulus
* Lancaran
* Malangbang
* Pelang
* Tongkang

15th c.|

* Pencalang

16th c.|

* Banting
* Ghali
* Juanga
* Kalulis
* Lepa-lepa (dugout canoe)
* Londe
* Penjajap

17th c.|

* Knabat bogolu
* Kora kora
* Kotta mara
* Orembai

18th c.|

* Chialoup
* Jukung tambangan
* Lepa
* Padewakang
* Toop

19th c.|

* Bajak
* Bangkong
* Golekan
* Janggolan
* Jellore
* Lambo
* Leti leti
* Lis-alis
* Palari
* Sampan panjang
* Solu

Fishing vessels|

* Bagan
* Bago
* Jukung
* Kakap
* Mayang
* Paduwang
* Pajala
* Paledang
* Patorani
* Sandeq

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template