Lack of access to an open ocean does not eliminate a country’s responsibility for maritime defense, and although lakes and rivers have fewer threats lurking
Curiosities
Shadows in the Ice: The Northwest Passage
We were taught to imagine Columbus’s arrival in America as a glorious moment in human history, a cornerstone of modern civilization. After all, isn’t the
(Un)Sinkable: The Puzzling Story of Concrete Ships
Concrete ships, concrete ships, concrete… I repeated the phrase a few times in my mind, each time sounding more and more improbable. After all, isn’t
How to Ship an Obelisk in Eight Steps (With Pictures)
The Victorian age was a heroic one, so much so that it produced an oversupply of heroes. Countless intrepid individuals roamed the Earth, scouring every
The Bessemer Saloon Steamer
What did Columbus, Nelson, and Darwin have in common? Apart from being great sailors, they all suffered from seasickness. An affliction haunting tourists and sea
A Wave of Knowledge: Floating Book Fairs
As the oceans get busier by the day, there seems to be no limit to what can be floated on the water – nuclear power
Bobbing Havens: Rescue Buoys of WWII
“I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin.” With these grave words, Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced to the British Parliament in
Streamlined Ships: Sunk in a Dream
The 1930s were a dark age for the global economy, with pessimism pervading most levels of society. But as gloom descended upon mankind, a handful
When Push Comes to Shove: History of Tugboats
While many out there seldom notice the tiny speck of steel at the base of docking supertankers, some of us connoisseurs harbor a benign obsession
Did the Titanic Help Sink the Eastland?
When the RMS Titanic sank in 1912, the outraged public demanded tectonic shifts in the shipping industry. One such development was the 1915 Seamen’s Act