Fuelling station
Encyclopedia
Fuelling stations are repositories of fuel (coal
& later oil
) that have been located to service commercial and naval vessels. The term, fuelling stations also refers to railroad locomotive coaling towers.
In the late 19th century steamships powered by coal
began to replace sailing ships as the principal means of propulsion
for ocean transport. Fueling stations transitioned to oil
as [steam engine]s gave way to internal combustion power plants..
Railroad steam locomotive
s were well suited to use coal to fire their steam boilers; unfortunately, coal must be mined and transported. The railroads needed to create points along their right of ways to store coal for locomotive refueling, these points also became known as coal stations, many of which remain today due to the high cost of demolition
incurred with these massive structures.
s in times of conflict, to this end defended fueling stations were setup around theaters
of operations. Examples of such fuelling stations were Gibraltar
, Malta
, and Hong Kong
for the British, and Honolulu , Pago Pago and Manila
in the Pacific for the United States. While defense of naval fuelling stations has historically focused on attack by other naval powers the USS Cole bombing
in the Yemeni
port of Aden
in October 2000 has focused attention on the importance of ship defense during refueling operations even in friendly fueling stations.
.. As shipbuilding
progressed to ever-larger ships, additional fuel storage capacity was incorporated into ship design that afforded greater range between refueling stops. Today most ocean going vessels have the ability to fuel for an uninterrupted ocean crossing at their terminal locations before setting to sea.
s, usually provided at Motive Power Depot
s.
In almost all cases coaling stations used a gravity fed method that allowed coal to slide down a chute
into the waiting locomotives coal storage area. The method of elevating the bulk coal above the locomotive varied,
in some cases facilities were provided for raising coal trucks or wagons above the height of the locomotive tender or the bunker to facilitate re-fuelling, this was either done by means of a 'coal stage' or a 'coaling tower'.
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
& later oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
) that have been located to service commercial and naval vessels. The term, fuelling stations also refers to railroad locomotive coaling towers.
History
Initially named a coaling station due to the use of coal for steam generation a fuelling station was built for the purpose of replenishing coal supplies for ships or railway locomotives. The term is often associated with 19th and early 20th century seaports associated with blue water navies, who used coaling stations as a means of extending the range of warships.In the late 19th century steamships powered by coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
began to replace sailing ships as the principal means of propulsion
Marine propulsion
Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in jet...
for ocean transport. Fueling stations transitioned to oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
as [steam engine]s gave way to internal combustion power plants..
Railroad steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s were well suited to use coal to fire their steam boilers; unfortunately, coal must be mined and transported. The railroads needed to create points along their right of ways to store coal for locomotive refueling, these points also became known as coal stations, many of which remain today due to the high cost of demolition
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
incurred with these massive structures.
Naval Fuelling Stations
Countries with large naval forces must maintain means for fueling their fleetFleet
-Vehicles:A fleet is a collection of ships or vehicles, with many specific connotations:*Fleet vehicles, two or more vehicles*Fishing fleet*Naval fleet, substantial group of warships*A group of small ships or flotilla...
s in times of conflict, to this end defended fueling stations were setup around theaters
Theater (warfare)
In warfare, a theater, is defined as an area or place within which important military events occur or are progressing. The entirety of the air, land, and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations....
of operations. Examples of such fuelling stations were Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
for the British, and Honolulu , Pago Pago and Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
in the Pacific for the United States. While defense of naval fuelling stations has historically focused on attack by other naval powers the USS Cole bombing
USS Cole bombing
The USS Cole Bombing, or the USS Cole Incident, was a suicide attack against the United States Navy destroyer on October 12, 2000 while it was harbored and refueled in the Yemeni port of Aden. Seventeen American sailors were killed, and 39 were injured...
in the Yemeni
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
port of Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
in October 2000 has focused attention on the importance of ship defense during refueling operations even in friendly fueling stations.
Commercial Fuelling Stations
As international trade grew a defined set of fixed routes, or sea lanes were established with fuelling stations appearing at strategic points along these routes. Since most fuelling stations did not possess natural resources in coal or oil the “bunkering” trade of transporting coal and oil to fueling stations consumed a considerable portion of shipping tonnageTonnage
Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
.. As shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
progressed to ever-larger ships, additional fuel storage capacity was incorporated into ship design that afforded greater range between refueling stops. Today most ocean going vessels have the ability to fuel for an uninterrupted ocean crossing at their terminal locations before setting to sea.
Railroads
The term coaling station (aka coaling tower) is also used with respect to the facilities established for re-fuelling of steam locomotiveSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s, usually provided at Motive Power Depot
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
s.
In almost all cases coaling stations used a gravity fed method that allowed coal to slide down a chute
Chute
A chute is a vertical or inclined plane, channel, or passage through which objects are moved by means of gravity.-Landform:A chute, also known as a race, flume, or river canyon, is a steep-sided passage through which water flows rapidly....
into the waiting locomotives coal storage area. The method of elevating the bulk coal above the locomotive varied,
in some cases facilities were provided for raising coal trucks or wagons above the height of the locomotive tender or the bunker to facilitate re-fuelling, this was either done by means of a 'coal stage' or a 'coaling tower'.