Spanish Treasure Fleet
The Spanish treasure fleet was the convoy system that carried silver, gold, and other goods between Spain and its American colonies from 1566 to 1790, with the escorted fleets assembling at Havana for the voyage home.
What happened and why it matters
The treasure fleets show the trade-off between security and speed that still shapes freight: grouping cargo into escorted convoys cut losses to pirates and privateers, but shipments had to wait for the next sailing. Ships gathered at Havana before crossing the Atlantic, and the Casa de Contratacion in Seville controlled the trade until its functions moved to Cadiz in 1717 and it was abolished in 1790. Shippers face a similar choice today when they hold goods to fill a full container and lower the cost per unit, or send partial loads sooner at a higher rate per unit.
Related events
Sources
- Spanish treasure fleet en.wikipedia.org