Throughout human history, fascination with the sea has led to ship experimentation and discovery. Whether for transport, fishing, war, or travel to foreign lands, the ship has been vital to our understanding of our past and present and will continue to influence our future. Beginning in the 19th century, a transformational invention provided a breakthrough in ship technology: the steam engine. By mid-century,iron-making techniques made it possible to apply the technology to ships,leading to benefits in construction time, strength, and carrying capacity.