History

Maritime Transportation has played an important role in global trading throughout history. Egyptians may have established trading with Sumatra (today’s Indonesia) as early as 1,200 BC. For thousands of years vessels depended on wind power until the mid 1900s, after which the introduction of the steam engine changed everything and mechanized ships became a reality. This technology revolutionized maritime: the way ships were built, repaired and all the technology that supported the growing industry. The introduction of the diesel engine in the twentieth century was a catalyst for another substantial period of growth for the industry, with larger cargo and container transport vessels made possible. The economy of the United States, with its 26,000 miles of commercial waterways, is deeply tied to maritime industries; last year, seaport-related businesses generated approximately 8.4 million American jobs and added nearly $2 trillion to the economy. Interested in learning more about the history of maritime transportation and it’s impact on our economy? Please visit the following sites: http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch3en/conc3en/ch3c4en.html http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/themes/story_48_1.html http://www.economics.noaa.gov/?goal=ecosystems&file=users/business/marine/