by Rose George
First published 2013
Forty thousand cargo vessels traverse our oceans, transporting eighty percent of global commerce and ninety percent of our energy supplies. Almost every item we consume, wear, or use has traveled by sea at some point. Yet this colossal industry operates largely invisible to public scrutiny, with questionable practices often evading oversight through flags of convenience arrangements. Rose George embarks on an ambitious investigation, sailing with powerful naval forces, encountering pirate crews, and documenting illegal floating operations. She explores ports and meets dockworkers, shipping magnates, missionaries, stevedores, border agents, and maritime enthusiasts. George encounters beachcombers who monitor the ten thousand containers lost annually, observes robotic systems replacing human sailors, and interviews environmental activists fighting ocean contamination. Her determined reporting navigates the complex, populated waters of international maritime commerce, revealing an industry that shapes our daily lives while remaining largely hidden from view.
Genres: business, economics, environment, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: hidden-industry, investigative-journalism
Setting: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceans
Period: 21st Century
272 pages · Paperback · Portobello Books Ltd