Stories

Delve into our flagship programmes, stories, blogs and online exhibitions.

Discover the voices behind our heritage

The Stories section brings together inspiring narratives and historical insights that shape our understanding of maritime heritage and its impact on the current ocean economy. These narratives highlight lessons learned from the past, innovations and technical transitions that protect lives at sea, and the human commitment to safeguarding communities and environments.

Explore our flagship programmes: Learning from the Past, Rewriting Women into Maritime History and Potentially Polluting Wrecks. By fostering collaboration with academic institutions, industry partners, and community stakeholders, through these projects, we enhance our understanding of the challenges facing the maritime sector, and contribute to building a safer, more sustainable, and resilient ocean economy.

Stay up to date with our newsletter

Flagship programmes

Person in dark clothing searching through archival storage shelves with boxes under fluorescent lighting.

Learning from the Past

Understanding our heritage for a safer, sustainable future.

Scuba diver exploring a sunken submarine wreck in deep blue waters.

Potentially Polluting Wrecks

Leveraging our funding, archive and knowledge network to address the environmental risks posed by hazardous materials in thousands of sunken vessels worldwide.

A lush green wetland landscape with a person in a green sari standing amid vegetation, water and city skyline in background.

Rewriting Women into Maritime History

Uncovering female shipping expertise, experience and leadership to promote gender equity, diversity and inclusion. Founded in the UK, the project is now global.

Latest stories

Vintage black-and-white photograph of a large ocean liner being dismantled at a shipbreaking yard with cranes.

This page was published on 05/08/2026

This page is approximately a minute read

How iron and steel ships were reused, reworked and recycled

This story explores how iron and steel ships were repurposed, converted into hulks, broken down in scrapyards, or deliberately sunk - and the complex environmental and geopolitical forces shaping that process.

Black and white illustration of a large ship being broken up at Rotherhithe shipbreaker's yard, with small rowing boats nearby.

This page was published on 29/07/2026

This page is approximately a minute read

The reuse of wooden ships: Wrecks, timber and souvenirs

Wooden ships rarely met a simple end. From prison hulks and harbour foundations, their timbers found remarkable second lives. This article explores the often overlooked history of how wooden vessels were reused, recycled, and remembered after their seafaring days were over.

Aerial view of the Royal Arctic Line container ship "Naja Arctica" in a Arctic harbour.

This page was published on 22/07/2026

This page is approximately a minute read

Marine noise pollution: Impact and solutions

Ships are among the ocean's noisiest polluters, and the consequences are far-reaching. Marine noise pollution disrupts the survival behaviours of countless sea creatures, from whales to invertebrates. As shipping traffic grows, so does urgency — making it critical to understand the problem and explore viable solutions.

Vintage 1918 French share certificate for Chantiers Navals Français, 500 francs, green decorative print.

This page was published on 16/07/2026

This page is approximately a minute read

Surveyors of Lloyd's Register's past: Valdemar McLelland Linklater

Meet Valdemar McLelland Linklater, a Scottish-born ship surveyor whose career spanned wartime service, international postings, and decades of dedication to Lloyd's Register.