African Business Chronicles

Chapter 46 – The Fleet

October 8, 1866 – Venice

Hexingen Shipyard.

This was Ernst's second visit to Venice. Unlike before, it was now October—the weather cool and comfortable as summer gave way to autumn.

Just two days earlier, Ernst had received news that the fifth new ship he commissioned had been completed. All five vessels ordered from the shipyard were now finished, resting in the docks and ready to be launched.

Ernst had come to witness the launch ceremony of his personal fleet. The Hexingen Shipyard continued to fulfill outside contracts and could only spare one dry dock per cycle for Ernst's ships. This was necessary to maintain a stable operating schedule for the shipyard.

Led by shipyard employees, Ernst made his way confidently to the dock, accompanied by the vessels' designers and engineers.

A massive ocean-going wooden sailing ship sat by the dock. The scaffolding had been dismantled, and as the dry dock's gates were closed, water began to pour in from both sides, slowly lifting the vessel as the water level rose.

"These five ships are all wooden-hull sailing ships equipped with steam engines," one engineer explained. "They were designed by seasoned naval architects and follow proven structural blueprints with only slight adjustments to suit your specifications."

Standing by the shore, Ernst listened carefully. The ships were technically well-built. Sail-powered but aided by steam propulsion, they were easier for crews to operate during long voyages.

"If these ships are to sail to the Far East and stay at sea for long periods, are they reliable enough?" Ernst asked.

"Don't worry, sir," the engineer replied. "Our craftsmen have made their living from shipbuilding for years. We don't dare cut corners on materials or workmanship. As for the design, we've based it on the most reliable models of the day. The tweaks we made won't affect the vessel's structural integrity."

Of course, these assurances might not be worth much, but they gave Ernst some peace of mind. He was mainly concerned about reckless innovation—many ships had sunk due to overly ambitious designs. As long as they stuck to established, stable techniques, the ships should be safe.

With the vessels ready, it was time to put them to work.

Ernst turned to his new assistant, Eric.

"Eric, starting the day after tomorrow, prepare to recruit sailors for our first overseas commercial fleet. Advertise in the Venice region."

"Make sure to hire veteran captains who've sailed international routes before. As for general crew, recruit locally."

"Yes, sir!" Eric replied.

"And one more thing," Ernst added. "These five ships will be used to transport machinery to East Africa. Handle all coordination."

He planned to ship equipment like sisal processors, threshers, and basic industrial machinery to the colony. Processing goods locally would increase profit margins and simplify logistics.

…

While Ernst was focused on building his overseas fleet, Prince Constantin was leveraging his noble connections to find a bride for his son.

On his desk lay files from various aristocratic houses, mostly from the German states. At this time, Germany was still Europe's aristocratic breeding ground—many royal families across the continent had German roots.

Beyond Germany, Constantin also considered noble families from Sweden, France, and Russia.

"No… too young. This one's too old. That family's status is too low. This one has health issues…"

Eventually, he narrowed it down to three candidates. He decided to wait until Ernst returned to make the final decision together.

…

After attending the ship launch ceremony, Ernst officially registered the five ships under the Hexingen Overseas Trade Company.

The company's focus was on trade between Europe, East Africa, and East Asia. Whether or not it turned a profit was secondary. For now, the goal was to cut shipping costs. The Dutch charged high rates, and owning a fleet meant tighter control over logistics—especially to and from the colonies.

The Suez Canal wasn't open yet, but these ships would give Ernst's crews time to learn long-haul sailing. Meanwhile, the fleet would be gradually expanded in preparation for the canal's opening.

Once completed, the Suez Canal would cut the travel distance between Europe and East Africa by more than half.

The route would go from the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, and then through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into the Indian Ocean. From there, ships could follow the coast south to East Africa.

In the Gulf of Aden, Ernst's fleet could either turn east to the Far East or south to the colony. Ships returning from either direction could dock at Mediterranean ports, with cargo transported overland from Austria to Prussia.

Until then, they had no choice but to sail the long western route along Africa's coast. This wasn't all bad—it gave the new crew time to get used to their jobs and routines.

"Eric, one more task," Ernst added. "Go to the market and see if there are any second-hand ships for sale. Five isn't enough. Let's see if we can grow the fleet to more than ten."

"Yes, sir." Eric wrote it all down and began planning.

The five newly built steam-assisted sailing ships set out for sea trials on the Adriatic.

Ernst stood at the bow, feeling the sea breeze on his face.

Ships passed back and forth in the busy Adriatic, horns blaring in the distance.

The water was calm, and gentle waves lapped against the hull. Ernst felt no strong motion—his first time aboard an ocean vessel was surprisingly comfortable.

This fleet would soon be sailing the route to East Africa full-time.

To Ernst, Europe and East Asia were just resource pools—places to gather manpower and supplies.

East Africa was the real heart of his empire.

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