Who doesn't think of freedom and adventure, Moby Dick and Treasure Island, Titanic and Pirates of the Caribbean when it comes to ships? Ships have always been important means of transportation. They enabled the discovery of foreign continents as well as the transfer of culture and goods between peoples. This close relationship between humans and ships has led to impressive achievements in shipbuilding. This volume by Hans Karr gathers the most famous ships of the 20th century and describes their technical features. Anecdotes from the often spectacular lives of the ships entertainingly complete the portraits.