In the late 19th Century, many physicists in Europe, America and elsewhere were investigating and experimenting with radio waves. One of these was the Italian, Guglielmo Marconi, who came to England at a young age. He went on to found the Marconi company, which established the Lizard Wireless Station in 1900. There, he conducted further [...]

The first crossword for 2024 devised by volunteer Roger Burns features a wide range of maritime and nautical clues to test your knowledge. This edition includes some clues linked to sites featured within the Needles Voyager, where you might find some pointers for the answers! The Voyager is part of the Unpath’d Waters project which [...]

Volunteer Roger Burns investigates the sinking and subsequent raising of a Royal Navy Cruiser, HMS Gladiator, consequent on a collision in the Solent with an American passenger liner, SS St. Paul.  Raising ships, especially such a large ship, was unusual then and a considerable feat. A decade later, a bizarre sequel unfolded.   HMS Gladiator [...]

This year, we thought it would be illuminating to portray a combination of Christmas celebration, hardship and poignancy but with a maritime flavour spanning the late-19th and mid-20th centuries, and volunteer Roger Burns has compiled a representative selection of events and stories. Booze and mistletoe provide a good start! The Belfast Telegraph of 8 January [...]

MAT volunteer Roger Burns has created another crossword to test your maritime and nautical knowledge. As before, clues are a mixture of maritime and nautical knowledge, with some “linking” words. Many of the answers feature on the MAT or Shipwreck Centre and Museum websites. Answers including associated weblinks will be posted next month.  {{ vc_btn: [...]

Aids for mariners are essential for safety at sea and nowadays are commonplace. Charts are now mostly accurate except where sandbank positions, for example, are transient due to tidal wave action. Satellites provide accurate locational information for ships on the open sea.  But before modern technology, and still to this day, lighthouses and lightvessels play [...]

As readers may know, there are two stone anchors currently on display at the Shipwreck Centre & Maritime Museum on the Isle of Wight. While they seem quite hefty and impressive when considered on their own, in comparison to the large numbers of very heavy stone anchors found all over the Mediterranean, which are generally [...]

With 2023 marking 50 years since the passing of the PWA, it is timely to highlight the range of marine and maritime sites covered by this and other types of legislation. MAT volunteer, Roger Burns, has developed the latest crossword which includes examples within Marine Protected Areas in Scotland and Wales, and for England, Protected [...]

Have you experienced a Train Ferry? Perhaps you think that Train Ferries are uncommon, but especially in earlier times, you would be wrong. Volunteer Roger Burns takes you through from the beginnings to the present day, and you might be surprised at how many there were worldwide, and how many are still in use. The [...]

Shipwrecks have always fascinated humankind. Even over 3000 years ago, Homer’s Odyssey figured the titular character’s shipwreck as central to its narrative arc and Virgil portrayed Aeneas’ maritime adventures to found Rome as they elicit an undeniable excitement from the audience. The mystery and grandeur of a well-built ship being overpowered by the force of [...]