This book originated in two meetings – Oceans at the Millennium (2000) and
Oceans of Change (2002) – both held at the National Maritime Museum,
Greenwich, UK, and organised jointly by the Museum and the International
Geographical Union’s Commission on Marine Geography. The object of both
meetings was to create forums for discussion of the problems associated with
the use and protection of the world’s seas and oceans, and the implications of
these problems for future economic and conservation strategies. Shipping and
ports are major forces in this arena, and the shipping and port literature already
contains numerous case studies. The meetings at the National Maritime
Museum were designed to move towards a more integrated systematic
approach through the juxtaposition of ideas, analysis and results. Papers were
presented on contextual and methodological issues, on recent and current
research, on policies and on planning experiences. Both events brought
together a wide range of participants from international organisations, government
agencies, the shipping and port industries, environmental groups, and
academia.