Undoubtedly, the flute was the workhorse of 17th-century shipping. Built and designed to transport large loads of bulk goods, this type of ship sailed to all corners of Northern Europe, and they could also be found in the Mediterranean, although they were then accompanied by an armed escort. The VOC also used flutes for its intra-Asian trade. Flutes themselves carried little or no armament to defend against pirates; the pinas was more suitable for that purpose.