The ocean

The 19th century voyage that transformed our understanding of the ocean

A rare environment. A shocking transformation. Researchers Anna Crawford and Joseph Shoapik observe the effects of the collapse of the Milne Ice Shelf

The National Maritime Museum's Ocean Map reminds us just how much of the Earth is covered by water – and how important the ocean is to our planet

Invasive species are everywhere in our ocean – but what does it mean when we say a species has 'invaded', and how do they spread in the first place?

Are corals really animals? What causes coral bleaching? And why are coral reefs so important? Your ocean questions answered

Venice has always been at risk of flooding. But with climate change causing more damaging storms more often, is the future of this historic city under threat?

By extracting ice cores from Antarctica, scientists are able to travel more than 800,000 years back into Earth’s climate history

Find out what it's like to live and work in the Antarctic with British Antarctic Survey scientist Joanne Johnson

Track the UK's polar research vessel as it carries out important scientific research with the British Antarctic Survey

From submerged forests to ancient hippos, author Vanessa Taylor explores how discoveries by the banks of the Thames continue to shape our relationship with the river

Forty years ago, the attack on the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior and death of photographer Fernando Pereira caused international outrage.

Learn about Dr Nina Baker’s struggle to become one of the first women navigation officers in the British Merchant Navy

Listen to the stories of women who volunteer with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution – part of a series of recordings by the National Maritime Museum

How does it feel to sail solely using the wind and the waves? Wind, Tide & Oar, a new film by Huw Wahl, explores the essence of engineless sailing

How one photographer’s quest to visit every lifeboat station shines a light on our maritime heritage

“Time and Tide” is filmmaker Paul Wyatt’s love letter to a once-industrial riverside path in Greenwich. This area played a significant role in bridging oceans and changing how we communicate forever. Paul talks to Assistant Curator Aimee Mook about his film.

What is the impact of global change change on Pacific communities? And what should the global response be when a person’s homeland is literally ‘going under’?

Are the oceans really free for all? Find out what could be done to protect marine environments – and who has the power to make it happen

For many, Charles Dickens is synonymous with Christmas jollity. However, there was a darker side to Dickens’ work. Not only did he repeatedly refer in his novels and articles to the contemporary filth of the Thames, which culminated in the Great Stink crisis of 1858, he was also actively involved in kick-starting the reform programmes to resolve the issue.

What happens to offshore platforms when they are decommissioned? Follow their final journeys from the North Sea to the breaker's yard

Lifeline, water source, sewer – follow the murky history of London's relationship with the River Thames

Exploitation, slavery and even murder have been documented on board modern fishing fleets

Track the largest container ship in the world using the interactive map

From Cutty Sark to cutting edge technology, could a new era of wind power help global trade go green?

Photographer and offshore worker Peter Iain Campbell shines a light on one of Britain's most challenging working environments

This month we investigate a small notebook from the Journal and Diary collection (RMG reference: JOD/325), kept by Thomas Edward Chilvers from the time he was serving in the Merchant Navy onboard the ship Empire Baffin. The Journal and Diary collection offers a fascinating insight into life at sea in the Royal and Merchant Navy, the fields of exploration and leisure activities in the words of those who contributed to laying the foundations of Britain’s maritime heritage.

Did the polluted waters of the Thames contribute to Britain's worst inland waterway tragedy?

From maps and mementos to art and commemoration, discover surprising migration stories found in the National Maritime Museum's collection

Shirley Fox shares her memories of moving to the UK, in a special oral history marking 75 years since the Empire Windrush's arrival in Britain

See the outcome of workshops centred around Refugee Week 2023's theme of Compassion, hosted by the National Maritime Museum in partnership with Lewisham College.

A brief guide to the records, resources and online collections available for people researching Jamaican ancestry.

The Empire Windrush wasn't the only ship to carry Caribbean passengers to the UK. Find out more about the vessels and people that helped to shape modern Britain

This blog looks at the entertaining diaries of James Anthony Gardner, written on his passage to New South Wales in 1829

Chef and author Mira Manek shares her Diwali family traditions, plus a perfect recipe for a day of celebrating

See the outcome of workshops centred around Refugee Week 2022's healing theme, hosted by BLKBRD Collective in collaboration with the National Maritime Museum

The Caird Library and Archive’s new display showcases some journals and diaries from our Archive collection.