Without the dedicated and often dangerous lifestyle of the professional merchant seaman, the World economy as it is known today would not exist. Through time of war and in peace the cargoes so vital to many nations have criss-crossed the vast oceans and coastal waterways that have now become household names. Ships once carried trade goods on voyages of unknown duration to destinations that could only be dreamt of, the experiences of their crews have long since been recorded in history. Life in confined quarters far from home and family seems destined to be the lot of the merchant seaman, many thousands of whom have lost their lives in the wake of these ancient mariners. With the progress of time, vessels have become more and more sophisticated and the cargoes often more hazardous. The exploits of these ships and their crews are mostly taken for granted and seldom recorded, except in dire circumstances or time of war.