Watercraft of the Colonial Sugar Industry: The “Sugar Lorcha” of Western Visayas

Irvin Bugtong1,2*, Ligaya Lacsina2, Jayrone Acasio3, and Pauline Basilia1,2,4

The lorcha, a hybrid vessel combining a Chinese rig with a European-style hull, is well documented in East Asian maritime history but remains understudied in the Philippine context. This study addresses that gap by examining the sugar lorchas of Western Visayas. Archival evidence shows that lorchas were present in the region as early as the 1600s, with their prominence rising in the mid-19th century following the arrival of British Vice-Consul Nicholas Loney. His role in industrializing the colonial sugar industry prompted the redesign of the lorcha into a specialized cargo vessel. Unlike East Asian lorchas, which were often armed and used in anti-piracy operations, the Western Visayas variant was adapted specifically for transporting sugar across the Iloilo and Guimaras Straits. By introducing new archival sources and vessel descriptions, this study expands current understanding of historical boat types and maritime practices in Western Visayas. It argues that the sugar lorcha should be recognized not merely as a transport vessel but as a cultural artifact reflecting the industrial and socio-economic transformation of the region. Importantly, the sugar lorcha represents how early Philippine industrialization also affected waterways. As such, it offers a valuable lens for interpreting the colonial sugar economy and provides a foundation for future archaeological and ethnographic research on Western Visayan boatbuilding heritage and preservation.