Why a Ship's Speed Is Measured in Knots: Actual Knots, in a Rope
Sailors threw a piece of wood into the sea, counted the knots in the rope behind it, and timed it with an hourglass. That is why speed is in knots.
Curiosities
Short, surprising stories from ships and the sea — one idea at a time, in plain words, always with a source. New ones land here first, then on LinkedIn.
All curiosities
The Circle Painted on Every Ship Because One Man Lost His Temper
The circle on a ship's hull is there because one angry member of Parliament fought owners who overloaded ships for the insurance money. It still sets how deep a ship may load.