90% of everything you own arrived by sea.

And there’s one invention to thank above all else – the humble shipping container.

Today on Patented we’re joined by Rose George - journalist and author of the book Deep Sea and Foreign Going about her experience of spending five weeks on board a container ship.

Who do we have to thank for the modern shipping container?

Which country provides a quarter of the world’s merchant seamen?

Batten down the hatches and man the riggings as we set course for another edition of Patented.

The episode was produced by Freddy Chick & edited by Joseph Knight

The senior producer is Charlotte Long

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!