Pink (ship)

A pink (French - "pinque") is one of two different types of ship.

The first was a small, flat-bottomed ship with a narrow stern; the name derived from the Italian word "pinco". It was used primarily in the Mediterranean Sea as a cargo ship.

In the Atlantic Ocean the word pink was used to describe any small ship with a narrow stern, having derived from the Dutch word "pincke". Although they had a large cargo capacity, they were generally square rigged and therefore slow and sluggish to handle. However, they had better maneuverability in shallow waters than some similar classes of ship. They were most often used for short-range missions in protected channels, as both merchantmen and warships.

This model of ship was often used in the Mediterranean because it could be sailed in shallow waters and through coral reefs. It could also be maneuvered up rivers and streams. Contrary to popular thought, the pink is quite a fast and flexible ship. It may have got its name from the pink colour of the coral it prodominantly sailed through.