Antarctica is surrounded by some of the world's most hazardous seas and was first sighted less than three centuries ago. Since then, hundreds of ships have voyaged in Antarctic waters, challenged by poorly charted waters, storms, pack ice, icebergs, and disease. This is the story of these ships - some specially designed, some plucked from obscurity - and the critical role they played in opening up the continent. With technical information, plans, photos, paintings and maps Rorke Bryan begins the detailed information about the ships - from the earliest sightings of the 15th century up to the tourist ships and sophisticated reinforced research vessels of today into a single comprehensive volume.