Keelhauling was an official naval punishment used primarily by the Dutch navy from the 16th to 18th centuries. The condemned sailor was bound and thrown overboard, then dragged under the length of the ship by ropes. The hull was covered in barnacles sharp enough to strip flesh from bone. Death by drowning or blood loss was common before the victim resurfaced. Survivors faced immediate infection from the open wounds combined with saltwater exposure. The punishment was formally abolished by the Dutch navy in 1853. It had been in use for over two hundred years.
INTERESTING FACT Keelhauling was considered a moderate punishment in the Dutch navy. More severe offences carried the death penalty. Sailors who survived keelhauling were expected to return to duty. The scars were considered proof of discipline rather than evidence of cruelty.
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