In the mercantile, money-driven world of shipping, who cares about maritime history? Very few actually. And yet there are compelling reasons for marine professionals and ordinary folks alike to pause now and then to look back at shipping’s past. No need to go through thick volumes. Some blogs not only give us precious insights into maritime history, with all its human glories and blunders, but also strengthen our sense of being part of one global maritime village. Four such blogs have caught our attention:
The Old Salt Blog
Rick Spilman describes his blog as ‘a virtual port of call for all those who love the sea, whether from the deck of a ship or boat or from the pages of a novel.’ Here you can find nuggets of contemporary and historical happenings, ships and personalities. The rich tapestry of the blog reflects Mr Spilman’s multiple persona as writer, sailor, naval architect, videographer and student of maritime history.
Boatswains and Bacteremia
The blogger, Jared Wasser, is a medical student with a passion for maritime history, particularly involving surgeons at sea and the medical and health issues that confronted the sailors of old. He has serendipity – a knack for discovering the uncommon and the unusual, as we see in his recent blog post entitled ‘Evidence of fish tanks on Roman ships’. By going beyond his main interest, maritime medicine, Mr Wasser takes us on a journey to the wonderful ancient world of shipping.
Warships
Ronald van Maaner of the Netherlands and his son, Alexander, are inveterate maritime researchers who focus on navies and trading companies from the 16th century to the present. Their blog presents tidbits from their exploration of libraries, historical archives, old newspaper files and the Internet. The is one site to visit if one has a fondness for warships and naval history.
Adventures of the Blackgang
The blog is a cornucopia of old photographs, maritime posters and artwork, newspaper and magazine clippings, anecdotes and just about anything that together make up a rich tapestry of maritime history, art and culture. It’s unorthodox and often wacky and irreverent. Those who seek entertainment as well as information will find both in this offbeat blog.
~Barista Uno
