Lightermen in Singapore

Lighters along the Singapore River in 1973. Photograph by Ng Yew Loo.

As with their English counterparts, lightermen in Singapore were men who worked on a lighter or on a barge.[1] Their primary role was to transport cargo between ships in the harbour and warehouses along the Singapore River.[2] They were active in Singapore in the 19th and 20th century, playing a key role in the city's port functions. They were mostly migrant labourers from India or China and worked in teams ranging from two to four aboard tongkangs and twakows.[2] Lighterman had to be skilled in managing cargo boats as they dealt with many valuable goods that could easily be damaged or misplaced. Before the introduction of motorised boats, they were also required to have the skills to manage their boats with just oar and sail.[3]

  1. ^ Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Lighterman. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Dobbs, S. (2016). Lighterage Work Conditions and Organisation. In The Singapore River: A Social History, 1819-2002 (pp. 53-76). NUS Press.
  3. ^ Dobbs, S. (2016). Lightermen: Migration and Destiny. In The Singapore River: A Social History, 1819-2002 (pp. 22-34). NUS Press.