SHIPS

‘Bruce’ menaces the ‘Orca II’ on the set of ‘Jaws.’

The Bizarre Tale of the ‘Orca II,’ the Stunt Boat from ‘Jaws’

The replica boat ‘Orca II’ was the unsung star of 1975's ‘Jaws.’ But what happened after filming ended was worse than any shark attack.

A Manila galleon may have influenced ‘The Goonies.’

The Real-Life Shipwreck That May Have Inspired ‘The Goonies’

‘The Goonies’ turns 40 this year—and to make the film, director Steven Spielberg may have drawn inspiration from a real-life shipwreck that occurred off Oregon’s coast. It’s known as the Beeswax Wreck.

The bow of the USS ‘Samuel B. Roberts,’ lying more than 4 miles under the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

What Is the Deepest Shipwreck Ever Found?

These are the five deepest shipwrecks ever discovered, including the USS ‘Samuel B. Roberts,’ which went to the depths of the Philippine Trench during the Second World War.

Remains of What Could Be America’s First Domestic Cats Came From a 16th-Century Shipwreck

A sunken ship near Florida holds clues to the early history of cats in the U.S.

Titanic: The Digital Resurrection | Official Trailer | National Geographic

‘Violently Torn Apart’: 3D ‘Titanic’ Model Reveals New Details of the Ship’s End

A digital double promises fresh insight into the tragedy of the ‘Titanic.’

Passengers aren’t always referred to as passengers.

Why Do We Refer to Airplane and Ship Passengers as ‘Souls’?

Hearing the phrase ‘souls on board’ usually portends bad news. Why do we use it?

Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab during the shooting of the 1956 film Moby Dick

George Pollard Jr., Unlucky Captain of the Ship That Inspired ‘Moby-Dick’

When Captain George Pollard Jr.’s ship was rammed by a whale, he had no idea it would help make literary history.

What Does the Ship Designation ‘SS’ Mean?

The initialism was originally a bit of shipbuilder marketing—and now there are many different kinds of ship designations.

From this moment on, multiple entities have argued over ownership of the ‘Titanic’

Who Owns the ‘Titanic’?

The complicated legal case involving salvage rights to the RMS ‘Titanic’ continues, 40 years after the famous shipwreck was rediscovered.

One of the biggest differences between a ship and a boat is size—but it’s not the only one.

Ship vs. Boat: What’s the Difference?

You will instantly reveal yourself as a landlubber if you refer to a ship as a boat. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Why Is It Called a “Manila” Envelope?

There’s a surprising connection between the capital of the Philippines and mailing important documents.

Artifacts at the ‘Titanic’ wreck may never see the light of day.

‘Titanic’ Salvage Missions Placed on Indefinite Hold Thanks to Legal Issues

A blend of bureaucracy and saltwater is conspiring to keep any of the ship’s remaining secrets from being brought to the surface.

Otters Are Keeping Invasive Crabs Under Control in Monterey Bay

A new study shows that hungry sea otters are keeping Monterey Bay’s green crab population in check, one bite at a time.

The USS ‘Cobia’ is a living memorial—and an Airbnb attraction.

You Can Book a Night on a World War II Submarine Through Airbnb

Wisconsin's USS ‘Cobia’ offers guests a living history lesson via Airbnb.

‘Searching for Franklin,’ ‘The Indifferent Stars Above,’ and ‘Cannibalism.’

8 Books About Historical Cannibalism

You might want to skip dinner after reading these.

Divers have said that the RMS ‘Rhone’ is haunted.

The Legends Behind 6 Haunted Shipwrecks

Whether real wrecks or ghostly sightings, these ships bear stories of unexplained deaths, flying orbs, and screams from the depths of the sea.

New 3D Scans Show the ‘Endurance’ Shipwreck in Stunning Detail

The footage is from a new ‘Endurance’ documentary hitting Disney+ later this year.

‘Le Lyonnais’ (not pictured above) has been discovered after nearly 200 years.

‘Le Lyonnais,' a Long-Lost French Steamship, Has Been Discovered Off the Massachusetts Coast

The French vessel was the victim of a maritime hit and run.

Built in 1843, the schooner ‘Home’ is one of the oldest shipwrecks discovered in Wisconsin.

It Just Got Easier to Dive to Shipwrecks in Lake Michigan

Thanks to a new buoy network, scuba divers and snorkelers can explore some of the historic wrecks—while protecting our maritime heritage—in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

The preserved hull of the Tudor warship ‘Mary Rose.’

12 Facts About the ‘Mary Rose,’ Henry VIII’s Legendary Warship

King Henry VIII built the English Royal Navy around his favorite warship, the ‘Mary Rose,’ which sank under mysterious circumstances in 1545.

Sir Ernest Shackleton stands on the deck of the ‘Quest’ before it left for Antarctica.

The ‘Quest,’ Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Last Ship, Has Been Found Off Eastern Canada

The ‘Quest’ was the ship on which Sir Ernest Shackleton carried out his final, uncompleted voyage to Antarctica.

This is no time to batten down the hatches.

16 Sailing Terms for Landlubbers

A handful of centuries-old sailing words remain known only to the saltiest of seamen, but some have become part of our everyday language.

“The Plague Hospital,” a painting by Francisco Goya.

13 Facts About the Black Death

The Black Death—the world's second bubonic plague pandemic—decimated the populations of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in the 14th century. But there was a silver lining.

On a cruise ship, the name ‘Oscar’ has a very serious meaning.

14 Secret Code Words You Might Want to Know

Whether they’re said over a PA or in a one-on-one conversation, these seemingly innocuous terms are actually codes to alert those in the know that something is up while keeping others in the dark.