Learnings: The Cargo Ship: The Knorr
As seen in this image, the ocean-going trader's hull was the broadest, widest, and deepest of all the Norse ships. THis allowed her to bear more weight than her breathren: up to 24 tons in cargo. Because the knorr could carry such heavy loads, the ship was often used for commercial activities such as trade or transport.
The ocean-going trader was adaptable; she could sail across both vast seas and shallow inland rivers. She could carry Scandinavian settlers and their livestock to the colonies, be they neighboring territories like Anglo-Saxon Britain or distant shores like Iceland or Greenland.
As a merchant ship, the ocean-going trader did not need to maneuver as quickly as a warship. This meant she needed fewer crewmembers and oars to help her change course. Conveniently this left more room for cargo and merchandise.