Research in focus

Inside the Megaship

What is it like to sail on one of the giants of global trade? Artist and researcher Zoe Childerley journeyed aboard HMM Southampton to find out
Making Waves

‘Our actions will define the future of our oceans’

How wildlife filmmaker Inka Cresswell is inspiring the next generation to save our seas
30 years on

Remembering the Sea Empress oil spill

Cliff Benson reflects on how efforts to save oiled sea birds inspired a lifetime's dedication to wildlife protection

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Ocean science

Understand how the ocean works and see how it impacts all life on Earth

How much of the ocean has been explored?

It is often claimed that we know more about the surface of the Moon than we do about the bottom of the ocean. What are we doing to learn more about our blue planet?

How the ocean works

A window into our watery world

Making Waves: Dr Dawn Wright

Oceanographer and chief scientist Dr Dawn Wright on diving to the deepest part of the ocean – and why we need to stand up for our blue planet

Coastal storms and climate change

Are hurricanes and tropical storms getting worse due to climate change – and what can be done to prepare? Professor Ilan Kelman introduces the possible scenarios

Atolls and climate change

Atolls are perceived as being most at risk from rising sea levels. Professor Ilan Kelman explores what the future could hold for these islands in the middle of the ocean

The ocean in numbers

If you're just dipping your toe in the water, here is a guide to the ocean in (increasingly large) numbers

The Challenger Expedition

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

Witnessing the loss of an Arctic ecosystem

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

Turning our view of the world inside out: introducing the new Ocean Map

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
See all
People and the ocean

Profiling the individuals and communities connected with our 'blue planet'

Making Waves: Captain Philippa Bowden

What’s it like to work in Antarctica? Ice pilot Captain Philippa Bowden on navigating the immense frozen wilderness – and the challenges facing the region

Tall tales and deep waters: the story of the ocean with Olivia Armstrong

How storyteller Olivia Armstrong is using the Ocean Map at the National Maritime Museum to help children see our watery world in a new way

Writing the Thames: a poet's journey along the river

To celebrate 30 years of the Thames Footpath, poet Robert Seatter embarked on a journey from source to sea, responding to what the Thames means to us. Where did the river take him?

The women leading India's maritime future

A new project supported by Royal Museums Greenwich documents the experiences of women in India's maritime industries. How do they compare to stories from the past?

Making Waves: Gail McGarva

Gail McGarva explains how her passion for traditional wooden boatbuilding took hold

Making Waves: Dr Dawn Wright

Oceanographer and chief scientist Dr Dawn Wright on diving to the deepest part of the ocean – and why we need to stand up for our blue planet

'I want to go to sea, do you think this might be possible?' – Nina Baker in her own words

Dr Nina Baker became the first female deck cadet in the British Merchant Navy. Listen to her account of a pioneering career

Life and love at sea: Merchant Navy oral histories

Seafarers Michael Rudder and Dominic Brown spent years working in the Merchant Navy. A chance encounter and a missed departure led to a life at sea together

Flowing through history: the past, present and future of the Thames

Author Vanessa Taylor explores how discoveries by the banks of the Thames continue to shape our relationship with the river
See all

What’s on

Find ocean events in Greenwich.

Events and festivals | Art and culture

International Slavery Remembrance Day
Explore the relationship between remembrance and reparative practice at the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House
Sunday 23 August 2026 | 11am-5pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Events and festivals | The ocean

RNLI day at Cutty Sark
Join us on board Cutty Sark for an exciting day of lifesaving demonstrations, activities and talks in collaboration with the RNLI
Saturday 26 September 2026 | 11am-4pm
Included with entry to the ship
Cutty Sark
Shipping and industry

The global links that shape our modern world

Inside the megaship: on board one of the world's biggest container ships

What is it like to sail on one of the giants of global trade? Artist and researcher Zoe Childerley journeyed aboard HMM Southampton to find out

From sailing ships to steam power: how the Industrial Revolution changed life at sea forever

The shift from wind to fossil fuels was far from smooth. As shipping tries to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, can we learn from fuel transitions of the past?

The unexpected history of the shipping container

They carry everything from apples to iPhones – but how did a simple metal box have such a profound impact on the way we live, work and shop?

The ice trade: a cold business

In this blog we explore how our ancestors obtained ice in an age before widespread domestic refrigeration.

How does the UK respond to a maritime emergency?

If a ship runs into trouble in UK territorial waters, an individual known as ‘SOSREP’ is often one of the first to be notified. Who are they, and how do they help prevent disaster at sea?

Sea Empress oil spill – 30 years on

Explore the legacy of the Sea Empress oil spill, and meet the people working to prevent disaster at sea today

Remembering the Sea Empress oil spill

Cliff Benson reflects on how efforts to save oiled sea birds inspired a lifetime's dedication to wildlife protection

Life on board a container ship – in pictures

Artist Zoe Childerley is embarking on a project with the National Maritime Museum to bring experiences of modern seafarers to light. How did she find her first voyage on board a container ship?

Thames barges and London docks – an oral history

Gordon 'Willie' Williamson worked aboard Thames barges throughout the 1960s, and witnessed the final years of central London as a busy cargo hub
See all
Migration and movement

Ocean crossings, cultural shifts and global forces

‘I've seen how Windrush identity has evolved’ – Anita McKenzie on mixed heritage and belonging

Anita McKenzie's parents arrived in Britain from Jamaica during the 1950s. Listen as she shares her memories of life in London, recorded as part of the Indo-Caribbean Windrush Oral History Project

Migration and art: introducing the new Queen's House display 'Crossings'

As a new collection of artworks reflecting on migrant experiences opens at the Queen's House, curator Tim May explores the role of physical and invisible borders in the story of migration

Printed ephemera: the golden age of ocean travel

Explore printed ephemera at the Caird Library and Archive, a collection that brings to life the golden age of ocean travel.

Where paths cross: a history of migration told through museum objects

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

'The whole world is here, but not all our stories are visible': exploring the collections with Remiiya Badru

My Creative Research Fellowship aimed to explore the collections from new perspectives and to engage with audiences in different ways.

Windrush histories: memories of moving to the UK

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

Workshops on the theme of Compassion - Refugee Week 2023

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.

How to research Jamaican family history

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

The ships of the Windrush generation

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
See all

Explore the ocean in Greenwich

Learn more about our blue planet at the National Maritime Museum, and find books about the ocean in our online shop.

Ocean Court
Explore the ocean. Play in the National Maritime Museum's largest indoor space. Discover what really powers our planet
Poles Apart: Explore the World of RRS Sir David Attenborough
Travel to the icy frontiers of modern polar science at the National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
Discover epic stories of exploration and endeavour that have shaped our world today
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Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World
£11.99
All of the Earth's ocean, from the equator to the poles, is a single engine powered by sunlight - a blue machine. Earth is home to a huge story that is rarely told - that of our ocean...
Buy now
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Adrift: The Curious Tale of the Lego Lost at Sea
£20.00
In 1997, sixty-two containers fell off the cargo ship Tokio Express after it was hit by a rogue wave off the coast of Cornwall...
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Ocean: Exploring the Marine World
£44.95
Endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Experience the force, mystery, and beauty of the ocean and seas through more than 300 images - featuring underwater photography, oceanographic maps and scientific illustrations, as well as paintings, sculptures and popular films.
Buy now

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