This article examines the Austrian Lloyd's role in the maritime movement of Circassian refugees in 1878 between the European and Asian shores of the Ottoman Empire, by placing both the shipping company and the individual ship at the centre of the analysis. It explores the political and economic context that led the Ottoman government to charter Austrian Lloyd, revealing the structural connections between multi-imperial policies and private shipping interests that shaped Mediterranean maritime mass mobilities. By analysing the company's operational practices, the article traces the developmental pathways of deck passenger transport, emphasising the links between technological advancements, business strategies, and the legal framework regulating sea passage. Finally, it provides a close examination of the “Sphinx” shipwreck, demonstrating the material impact of operational decisions within the confined and strictly regulated environment of a steamship at sea.
Matteo Barbano (Mon,) studied this question.
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