Norwegian-style longships suit raids that require a crew to beach or drag the ship ashore. Their flexible hulls move with the waves, although handling them depends on having an experienced crew. Much Viking trade also involved low-volume, high-value goods, compared here with modern air freight. Bulk cargo favours a wider, deeper, more stable merchant hull carrying more goods with fewer crew. Many vessels served several purposes, so the choice depends on the voyage and cargo rather than a universal ranking of ship designs.
Notable Point · 2:24:16-2:27:30
Viking raiding ships and maritime traders
Viking-age ship design traded the flexible, shallow hull needed for raiding against the wider, deeper form required to move bulk cargo efficiently.