The UnderSteam Collection is one of the UK’s most significant collections of maritime art, focused on the ships of the Merchant Navy during the age of steam.

With over 1,450 artworks, it captures a time when steam-powered vessels were at the heart of global trade. The collection ranges from ships at sea to the ports and harbours that supported them, offering a detailed picture of how Britain operated as a maritime nation.

Taken together, the works tell the story of the people, places and technology behind the merchant fleet - from the engineering behind steamships to the global routes they travelled and the lives of those onboard.

UnderSteam is supported by the Mercantile Marine Memorial Trust (MMMT), helping to ensure the long-term care and wider sharing of the collection.

We’re focused on opening up the collection to wider audiences. Through exhibitions, partnerships and digital access, we’re working to make it easier for people to explore, use and connect with this material.

There are lots of ways to get involved - whether that’s partnering with us on an exhibition, using the collection for research or education, or helping bring these stories to new audiences.

Our aim is simple: to make this collection accessible and relevant, and to help more people understand the role that maritime continues to play today.

UnderSteam

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UnderSteam

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