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Beyond the Breakers

Taylor and Tanner

Beyond The Breakers is a podcast about shipwrecks, loss, and lessons learned from maritime disasters. 

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  • 24 episodes
  • monthly
  • Avg 1 hr 13 min
  • English

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Episodes 24

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  • S6 · E13
    October 10 · 2 hr 31 min

    Episode 171 - Menai Strait Ferry Disasters ft. Canuck Is A Slur

    In this episode Tanner is joined by Kelly from Canuck Is A Slur to discuss a selection of Welsh ferry disasters, lone survivors, the purloining of sacred planks, and a wide array of other stuff. Mwynhewch! The Sameer Project Sources: Jones, Ivor Wynne. Shipwrecks of North Wales: Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Landmark, 2001. https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/tale-of-the-unsinkable-hugh-williams-a-little-too-good-to-be-true/ https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/~cmi/books/miscWr/aberMenai.html https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/The-English-conquest-of-Wales/ Support the show

  • S6 · E14
    October 4 · 1 hr 54 min

    Episode 172 - Vasa ft. A Flatpack History of Sweden

    We had the honor of recording with one of our favorite history podcasts, A Flatpack History of Sweden, to talk about one of the famous failures in maritime history - the Swedish royal warship Vasa. **for this episode there is no difference between the Patreon and main feed versions; it's also available on the Flatpack feed! Sources and further reading: Adams, Jonathan. “Ships and Boats as Archaeological Source Material.” World Archaeology, vol. 32, no. 3, Feb 2001, pp. 292 - 310. Afshar, R., N.P. van Dijk, I. Bjurhager, and E.K. Gamstedt. “Comparison of experimental testing and finite element modelling of a replica of a section of the Vasa warship to identify the behaviour of structural joints.” Engineering Structures, vol. 147, 2017, pp. 62 - 76. Batchvarov, Kroum. “A Method for Documenting Hidden Structures on Shipwrecks: the case of Vasa and Warwick.” International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, vol. 49, no. 1, 2020, pp. 65 - 73. Dedic, Dina, Tommy Iversen, and Monica Ek. “Cellulose degradation in the Vasa: The role of acids and rust.” Studies in Conservation, vol. 58, no. 4, Oct 2013, pp. 308 - 313. Eldeeb, Omaima Ahmed. “Underwater Cultural Heritage and Maritime Museums - the Past and the Future.” Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress for Underwater Archaeology. Archaeopress, 2020. Fors, Yvonne, Thomas Nilsson, Emiliana Daman Risberg, Magnus Sandström, and Peter Torssander. “Sulfur accumulation in pinewood (Pinus sylvestris) induced by bacteria in a simulated seabed environment: Implications for marine archaeological wood and fossil fuels.” International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, vol. 62, July 008, pp. 336 - 347. Fors, Yvonne and V. Richards. “The Effects of Ammonia Neutralizing Treatment on Marine Archaeological Vasa Wood.” Studies in Conservation, vol. 55, no. 1, 2010, pp. 41 - 54. Giorgi, R., D. Chelazzi, and P. Baglioni. “Conservation of acid waterlogged shipwrecks: nanotechnologies for de-acidification.” Applied Physics, vol. 83, 2006, pp. 567 - 571. Hocker, Emma. “Maintaining a Stable Environment: Vasa’s New Climate-Control System.” The Journal of Preservation Technology, vol. 41, no. 2/3, 2010, pp. 3 - 9. Kvarning, Lars-Åke and Bengt Ohrelius. The Vasa: The Royal Ship. Atlantis, 1998. Kvarning, Lars-Åke. “Raising the Vasa.” Scientific American, vol. 269, no. 4, Oct 1993, pp. 84 - 91. Laursen, Lucas. “Vasa’s Curious Imbalance.” Archaeology, vol. 65, no. 4, July/Aug 2012, pp. 42 - 45. Vogel, Gretchen. “Sweden Launches a Desperate Bid to Save Famous Warship.” Science, vol. 301, no. 5639, Sep 2003, p. 1459. https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/explore/vasa-history/disaster Support the show

  • S6 · E12
    September 11 · 50 min

    Episode 170 - SS Choctaw

    We're back to the Great Lakes for the tale of the freighter SS Choctaw. Bit of a rambler, this one, but we get there in the end. Sources: https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/441161 https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/436779 https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/SOTON_Documents/Plimsoll/21249.pdf https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mshda/mshda_shpo_20180824_nrhp_choctaw_shipwreck_630928_7.pdf https://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/w/wahcondah https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/209545006/ Support the show

  • S6 · E11
    August 9 · 1 hr 17 min

    Episode 168.3 - Port Chicago, Pt. III

    Here we conclude the series on the Port Chicago disaster and mutiny. The Sameer Project Sources: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/port-chicago/port-chicago-lessons-learned.html Allen, Robert L. “The Port Chicago Disaster and Its Aftermath.” The Black Scholar, vol. 13, no. 2 / 3, Spring 1982, pp. 2 - 29. Guttridge, Leonard F. Mutiny: A History of Naval Insurrection. Berkley, 1992. Olwell, Russell. “The Mare Island Mutiny: Pressure to Desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces.” OAH Magazine of History, vol. 15, no. 2, Winter 2001, pp. 64 - 70. Reddick, L.D. “The Negro in the United States Navy During World War II.” The Journal of Negro History, vol. 32, no. 2, Apr 1947, pp. 201 - 219. Wollenberg, Charles. “Black vs. Navy Blue: The Mare Island Mutiny Court Martial.” California History, vol. 58, no. 1, Spring 1979, pp. 62 - 75. https://portchicagoalliance.org/history.html - Port Chicago Alliance website https://portchicagomemorial.org/2006/03/19/port-chicago-in-print-and-music/ Port Chicago Mutiny Jazz Suite Support the show

  • S6 · E10
    July 25 · 1 hr 15 min

    Episode 169 - "Many Tribes of Different Colours": Canadian Sovereignty in the Arctic ft. Jessica Watkins

    **Episode 168.3 will be coming out after 169 - we did not forget about Port Chicago Pt. 3 In this episode Jess (of Karluk series fame) returns to the show for a discussion largely focused on Canadian attempts to more firmly impose sovereignty on the far northern reaches of Canada's claimed territories. Featuring appearances from Stef, Captain Bartlett (???), polar polymath George Comer, and the dashing Dane Knud Rasmussen. The Sameer Project Sources: Cavell, Janice and Jeff Noakes. Acts of Occupation: Canada and Arctic Sovereignty, 1918-25. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2010. Levere, Trevor H. “Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the Continental Shelf, and a New Arctic Continent.” The British Journal for the History of Science, vol. 21, pp. 233 - 247. Low, A.P. “Report on the Dominion Government Expedition to Hudson Bay and the Arctic Islands on board the D.G.S. Neptune 1903 - 1904.” https://www.gutenberg.org/files/55479/55479-h/55479-h.htm Ross, W. Gillies. “Canadian Sovereignty in the Arctic: The Neptune Expedition of 1903 - 04.” Arctic: Journal of the Arctic Institute of North America, vol. 29, no. 2, 1976, pp. 87 - 105. Support the show

  • S6 · E9
    July 7 · 1 hr 5 min

    Episode 168.2 - Port Chicago, Pt. II

    In this THREE-part episode we delve into a disaster on the US home front during WWII and the subsequent work stoppage that contributed to the eventual desegregation of the US Navy. Part I deals with the Port Chicago disaster itself, and Parts II and 3 will cover the details of the famous "mutiny" that took place in its aftermath. Sources: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/port-chicago/port-chicago-lessons-learned.html Allen, Robert L. “The Port Chicago Disaster and Its Aftermath.” The Black Scholar, vol. 13, no. 2 / 3, Spring 1982, pp. 2 - 29. Guttridge, Leonard F. Mutiny: A History of Naval Insurrection. Berkley, 1992. Olwell, Russell. “The Mare Island Mutiny: Pressure to Desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces.” OAH Magazine of History, vol. 15, no. 2, Winter 2001, pp. 64 - 70. Reddick, L.D. “The Negro in the United States Navy During World War II.” The Journal of Negro History, vol. 32, no. 2, Apr 1947, pp. 201 - 219. Wollenberg, Charles. “Black vs. Navy Blue: The Mare Island Mutiny Court Martial.” California History, vol. 58, no. 1, Spring 1979, pp. 62 - 75. https://portchicagoalliance.org/history.html - Port Chicago Alliance website https://portchicagomemorial.org/2006/03/19/port-chicago-in-print-and-music/ Port Chicago Mutiny Jazz Suite Support the show

  • S6 · E8
    June 13 · 1 hr 3 min

    Episode 168.1 - Port Chicago, Pt. I

    In this two-part episode we delve into a disaster on the US home front during WWII and the subsequent work stoppage that contributed to the eventual desegregation of the US Navy. Part I deals with the Port Chicago disaster itself, and Part II will cover the details of the famous "mutiny" that took place in its aftermath. Sources: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/port-chicago/port-chicago-lessons-learned.html Allen, Robert L. “The Port Chicago Disaster and Its Aftermath.” The Black Scholar, vol. 13, no. 2 / 3, Spring 1982, pp. 2 - 29. Guttridge, Leonard F. Mutiny: A History of Naval Insurrection. Berkley, 1992. Olwell, Russell. “The Mare Island Mutiny: Pressure to Desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces.” OAH Magazine of History, vol. 15, no. 2, Winter 2001, pp. 64 - 70. Reddick, L.D. “The Negro in the United States Navy During World War II.” The Journal of Negro History, vol. 32, no. 2, Apr 1947, pp. 201 - 219. Wollenberg, Charles. “Black vs. Navy Blue: The Mare Island Mutiny Court Martial.” California History, vol. 58, no. 1, Spring 1979, pp. 62 - 75. https://portchicagoalliance.org/history.html - Port Chicago Alliance website https://portchicagomemorial.org/2006/03/19/port-chicago-in-print-and-music/ Port Chicago Mutiny Jazz Suite Support the show

  • S6 · E7
    May 25 · 1 hr 3 min

    Episode 167 - HMS Hermes

    In this episode we discuss HMS Hermes, the first vessel designed explicitly as an aircraft carrier. The Sameer Project Sources: "Hermes". World War II Database. Osprey Publishing. https://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=160 "HMS Hermes I: Fleet Aircraft Carrier." Index of Naval Aircraft Carriers. Symonds, Craig L. World War II at Sea: A Global History. Oxford University Press, 2018. Support the show

  • S6 · E6
    May 6 · 1 hr 7 min

    Episode 166 - MV Rema

    This week it's the story of the cargo vessel MV Rema, lost in the North Sea in April 1998. The Sameer Project Sources: Flooding and sinking of dry cargo vessel Rema with loss of 4 lives. https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/flooding-and-sinking-of-dry-cargo-vessel-rema-off-whitby-england-with-loss-of-4-lives Support the show

  • S6 · E5
    April 14 · 1 hr 1 min

    Episode 165 - SS Springfjord

    This week we have the saga of the SS Springfjord, which survived World War Two unscathed but could not escape the wrath of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Sameer Project Sources: Handy, Jim. Gift of the Devil: A History of Guatemala. South End Press, 1984. Handy, Jim. Revolution in the Countryside: Rural Conflict and Agrarian Reform in Guatemala, 1944 - 1954. University of North Carolina Press, 1994. Prados, John. The Ghosts of Langley: Into the CIA’s Heart of Darkness. The New Press, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20101105080457/http://www.foia.cia.gov/docs/DOC_0000919986/DOC_0000919986.pdf https://www.nytimes.com/1954/07/01/archives/the-text-of-dulles-speech-on-guatemalan-upset.html Support the show

  • S6 · E4
    March 24 · 59 min

    Episode 164 - Tullaghmurry Lass

    This week it's the tale of the small fishing vessel Tullaghmurry Lass, lost in the Irish Sea on February 14th 2002. The Sameer Project Sources: Andrews, Rachel and Liam O'Brien. "Tullaghmurry Lass." RTÉ Radio 1, March 2005. https://www.rte.ie/radio/doconone/646256-lass "Kilkeel Harbour." eOceanic, https://eoceanic.com/sailing/harbours/113/kilkeel_harbour_county_down_ireland. McDonald, Henry and Paul Harris. "Three generations lost in family fishing tragedy." The Guardian, 16 Feb 2002. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/17/henrymcdonald.paulharris “Report of investigation into sinking of FV Tullaghmurry Lass N246 with loss of three lives in the Irish Sea on 14 February 2002.” Marine Accident Investigation Branch, February 2003. https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/explosion-on-board-prawn-trawler-mussel-dredger-tullaghmurry-lass-resulting-in-vessel-sinking-off-kilkeel-northern-ireland-with-loss-of-3-lives Tanney, Paul. "Wreck of missing NI trawler is located." The Irish Times, 23 Mar 2002. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/wreck-of-missing-ni-trawler-is-located-1.1054754 Support the show

  • S6 · E3
    March 12 · 51 min

    Episode 163 - Nantucket Lightship LV-117

    This week it's the tale of the Nantucket lightship LV-117 and her fateful collision with the Titanic's older sister. The Sameer Project (Tents / aid for Gaza) Sources: media.defense.gov/2020/Sep/28/2002507189/-1/-1/0/LIGHTSHIP_SNAPSHOT_OF_LIFE_ABOARD_LV78.PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20121024033319/https://www.uscg.mil/history/weblightships/LV117.asp Chirnside, Mark. The 'Olympic' Class Ships: Olympic, Titanic, Britannic. 2nd rev. ed., The History Press, 2011 Support the show

  • S6 · E2
    February 18 · 1 hr 11 min

    Episode 162 - Zhe Ling Yu Yun 135

    In this episode we discuss a maritime incident from March 2011 that saw the container ship COSCO Hong Kong collide with fishing transportation vessel Zhe Ling Yu Yun 135 off the coast of Zhejiang Province. The Sameer Project Sources: “Collision between container vessel Cosco Hongkong and fish transportation vessel Zhe Ling Yu Yun 135 with loss of 11 lives.” Marine Accident Investigation Branch, 23 Jan 2015. https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/collision-between-container-vessel-cosco-hongkong-and-fish-transportation-vessel-zhe-ling-yu-yun-135-east-china-sea-with-loss-of-11-lives Yi, Zaicai. “Study on collision between fishing vessels and merchant ships within the China coastal waters.” World Maritime University, 23 Aug 2015. https://commons.wmu.se/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1125&context=msem_dissertations Support the show

  • S6 · E1
    January 17 · 53 min

    Episode 161 - The Rodney Disaster

    The first episode of Season 6 (!) takes us to Sydney Harbor for the story of the ferry Rodney. [The main story starts at 11:39] This episode ends with a trailer for the Season 6 Patreon (intro music - 'Poppy' by our pals Nadezhda https://nadezhda.bandcamp.com/) and preview for non-patrons of the Guadalcanal bonus series. The Sameer Project Sources: "80 Years on: the Rodney ferry disaster." Sydney Morning Herald, 13 Feb 2018. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/80-years-on-the-rodney-ferry-disaster-20180208-h0vs63.html Lennon, Troy. "19 died when the Rodney ferry capsized as people rushed to farewell US warship Louisville." Daily Telegraph, 13 Feb 2018. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/today-in-history/19-died-when-the-rodney-ferry-capsized-as-people-rushed-to-farewell-us-warship-louisville/news-story/0d0fe4feb123318c05533537ce54f8c9 "Sinking of the ferry Rodney." Daily Telegraph Mirror, 8 Feb 1991. https://messui.polygonal-moogle.com/incident/1938_rodney.pdf Support the show

  • S5 · E20
    January 1 · 1 hr 6 min

    Episode 160.2 - Tirpitz, Pt. II

    This episode is part two(of two) on the life and times of the German battleship Tirpitz. *This is also the final episode of Season 5 - thanks for listening and we will be back with a new season soon! The Sameer Project Gaza Funds Sources: Hansen, Kenneth P. “Raeder Versus Wegener: Conflict in German Naval Strategy.” The Naval War College Review, vol. 58, no. 4, Autumn 2005. Knowles, Daniel.Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Great Battleship. Fonthill Media, 2018. Steinberg, Jonathan. Yesterday’s Deterrent: Tirpitz and the Birth of the German Battle Fleet. Macmillan, 1965. Symonds, Craig L. World War II at Sea: A Global History. Oxford University Press, 2018. Zetterling, Niklas and Michael Tamelander. Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany’s Last Super Battleship. Casemate, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20190219133255/https://www.tirpitz-museum.no/#home https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/18149/Tirpitz-Museum.htm Support the show

  • S5 · E19
    Dec 5, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

    Episode 160.1 - Tirpitz, Pt. I

    This episode is part one (of two) on the life and times of the German battleship Tirpitz. The Sameer Project Gaza Funds Sources: Hansen, Kenneth P. “Raeder Versus Wegener: Conflict in German Naval Strategy.” The Naval War College Review, vol. 58, no. 4, Autumn 2005. Knowles, Daniel.Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Great Battleship. Fonthill Media, 2018. Steinberg, Jonathan. Yesterday’s Deterrent: Tirpitz and the Birth of the German Battle Fleet. Macmillan, 1965. Symonds, Craig L. World War II at Sea: A Global History. Oxford University Press, 2018. Zetterling, Niklas and Michael Tamelander. Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany’s Last Super Battleship. Casemate, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20190219133255/https://www.tirpitz-museum.no/#home https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/18149/Tirpitz-Museum.htm Support the show

  • S5 · E18
    Nov 11, 2025 · 58 min

    Episode 159 - Padre Eterno

    This week it's the tale of the Portuguese galleon Padre Eterno, launched in the Bay of Guanabara in 1663. More the story of a ship that did wreck at some point and the world she inhabited rather than a nuts-and-bolts 'shipwreck' yarn. The Sameer Project Sources: Blackburn, Robin. The Making of New World Slavery: From the Baroque to the Modern, 1492 - 1800. Verso, 1998. Camenietzki, Carlos Ziller. “O galeão Padre Eterno.” BN Digital Brasil. https://bndigital.bn.gov.br/dossies/historia-da-ciencia/o-galeao-padre-eterno/ Costa, Fernando Dores. A Guerra da Restauração, 1641 - 1668 (Temas de História de Portugal. Livros Horizonte, 2004. Gomes, Laurentino. Escravidão, Volume I: Do primeiro leilão de cativos em Portugal até a morte de Zumbi dos Palmares. GloboLivros, 2019. Lara Mesquita, João. “Padre Eterno: maior navio do século 17 no Brasil.” Mar Sem Fim, 13 Jan 2020. https://marsemfim.com.br/maior-navio-do-mundo-no-seculo-17-foi-construido-no-brasil/ Marcolin, Neldson. “Por mares sempre navegados.” Pesquisa, vol. 189, Nov 2011. https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/por-mares-sempre-navegados/ Russell-Wood, A. J. R. The Portuguese Empire, 1415 - 1808: A World On The Move. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. https://lisboa-e-o-tejo.blogspot.com/2019/06/padre-eterno.html Els Segadors (Catalan National Anthem) referenced in the episode Support the show

  • Nov 5, 2025 · 1 hr 18 min

    **unlocked** 'The Ignoble Means by Which That Wealth Was Accumulated' - The Slaving Brig Henriqueta and the Illicit Slave Trade to Brazil (March 2025 2nd Mate Bonus)

    We've unlocked a bonus episode for everyone, since there's some useful information here for an upcoming main episode dealing with Portugal/Brazil. Sources: Blackburn, Robin. The Making of New World Slavery: From the Baroque to the Modern, 1492 - 1800. Verso Books, 1998. Silva, Daniel Neves. "Escravidão no Brasil." Universo Online, https://mundoeducacao.uol.com.br/historiadobrasil/escravidao-no-brasil.htm Tinnie, Dinizulu Gene. “The Slaving Brig Henriqueta and Her Evil Sisters: A Case Study in the 19th Century Illegal Slave Trade to Brazil.” The Journal of African American History, vol. 93, no. 4, Fall 2008, pp. 509 - 531. "Trans-Atlantic Slave Trades - Estimates." https://www.slavevoyages.org/assessment/estimates Support the show

  • Oct 31, 2025 · 7 min

    **bonus preview** "To Defeat Such Unreasonable Purposes": Lord Dunmore's Floating Town - A Maritime Misadventure of the American Rebellion

    This is a short preview of our most recent $3 bonus episode - sign up on Patreon at the $3 Able Seaperson tier for an extra episode each month, or the $5 2nd Mate tier for two extra episodes. Patrons also get main episodes a few days early, plus occasional bits of the main episode that are edited out on the main feed release. Support the show

Showing 1–20 of 24 episodes