Skip to content Skip to footer

Portefaix (Dock Handler)

$40.00

The portefaix appeared at the end of the XIVth century. These porters were used to load and unload ships by hand with no mechanical help. This work employed a lot of workers. At the beginning of the XIXth century their corporation had the monopoly of the handling of the Port of Marseille. At the end of the XIXth century, they were supplanted by the Company of Docks, equipped with machines for lifting. They were more organized with cold storage plants and silos. The porter is the ancestor of our modern dockers. Marseille is a large city that boarders the sea. There are many ships importing and exporting goods. A dock handler is necessary for the task.
Available in #2