Global Connections

As part of a fast-paced, global economy, ships have been transformed, along with maritime industries and life at sea.

Ships have connected the markets of the world for centuries, and in the 21st century oceangoing commerce crisscrosses the globe in ever-larger vessels. New ships, some so huge they can only call at the world’s biggest ports, feature innovative designs and new technologies to serve specialized purposes. With growing concerns about the effects of large-scale shipping on the environment, modern maritime industries are investing in new technologies to address pollution and waste. Still, the work of connecting the nations and markets of the world by water endures.