This reference work serves as a comprehensive encyclopedic resource for the history, technology, and terminology of maritime activity. The author, Peter Kemp, utilizes his extensive background in naval history to compile a vast array of entries covering everything from naval architecture and famous vessels to the biographies of significant explorers and the mechanics of navigation. The text functions as a foundational reference, organizing complex nautical data into an accessible alphabetical format.

Experts and researchers frequently cite this volume as a standard reference tool for maritime studies due to its breadth and historical accuracy. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which makes it better suited for consultation than casual reading.