With a nearly 40-year career in maritime trade history, with stints in London, Tokyo, Singapore and Dubai, Nick Collins has once again telling more excellent stories of the history of shipping, having published his latest book entitled 'The Ascent of Maritime Trade: 1700-2025' as part of his trilogy of works to showcase how maritime trade has evolved since it kick started global trade.

Collins joined the Baltic Exchange in 1976 as a trainee shipbroker. His career in maritime trade saw him work in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East - including time as managing director of Clarksons Asia during the 1980s. In 2010 Collins became chief operating officer of Clarksons Dubai up until his retirement in 2014. 

The third volume of his work tackles the Maritime Enlightenment, which spurred economic liberalism and humanitarianism, breaking free from historic attitudes to slavery and serfdom, contextualising current debates on imperial history. It also looks at the immediate cause of America’s War of Independence and illegal maritime trade, and the post 1945 rise of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China and UAE due to their encouragement of maritime trade and shipping. 

Baltic Exchange spoke to Nick following the release of his second book in 2022, which can be read here.

The Ascent of Maritime Trade: 1700-2025 is available to purchase here.

You can also read more about Nick and his work in maritime history by visiting his official website here.