I find Maersk fascinating. It is the Coca-Cola of freight with none of the fame. Its parent company, A. P. Moller-Maersk, is Denmark's largest company, its sales equal to 20 percent of Denmark's GDP; its ships use more oil than the entire nation. Rose George cocacolacompany share on social
In villages across the developing world, governments have provided reasonable enough latrines that have again and again been turned into storage spaces or simply abandoned. In India alone, millions of government-funded latrines have become goat-sheds. Some had been built near kitchens, a taboo in Indian households. Rose George abandonbuilddevelop share on social
Before containers, transport costs ate up 25 percent of the value of whatever was being shipped. Rose George containercosteat Change image and share on social
It's difficult on a ship to get away from your job because that accommodation house, which is where seafarers live, is their workplace, it's where they live, it's where they relax, it's everything, and it's just hard to get away. And seafarers often refer to their job as being in prison with a salary. Rose George accommodationdifficulthard share on social
Ninety percent of what we wear, we eat, we consume is carried by ships... Container ships carry a vast amount of stuff. Rose George amountcarryconsume Change image and share on social
There are few industries as defiantly opaque as shipping. Even offshore bankers have not developed a system as intricately elusive as the flag of convenience, under which ships can fly the flag of a state that has nothing to do with its owner, cargo, crew, or route. Rose George bankercargoconvenience share on social
Some countries have more water than others - some can afford to use clean water to flush their poop away, and some can't. Rose George affordcleancountry Change image and share on social
Seafaring can be lucrative - the elite, such as gas-tanker captains, can earn $100,000 for six months' work - but the isolation is a heavy price to pay. Rose George 000captainearn Change image and share on social
The more ships have grown in size and consequence, the more their place in our imagination has shrunk. Rose George consequencegrowimagination Change image and share on social
The average human being spends three years of life going to the toilet, though the average human being with no physical toilet to go to probably does his or her best to spend less. It is a human behavior that is as revealing as any other about human nature, but only if it can be released from the social straitjacket of nicety. Rose George averagebehaviorhuman share on social