frog & fog (V)
For those who were fiercely competitive, nothing was harder than keeping victory within proper bounds.
After the American Revolutionary War ended, America had been trying to establish its own manufacturing industry and shed its status as an agricultural nation, but Britain was never going to give them that opportunity.
As Napoleon had privately told Gaston Martin, Britain's so-called free trade was nothing more than using protectionism and navigation restrictions to elevate its own manufacturing industry beyond the reach of free competition, then righteously demanding that other countries open their markets and preaching the benefits of free trade to them. It was like climbing onto a roof and then pulling away the ladder; no matter how high those standing on the ground jumped, they could never surpass Britain's height. Having gained economic hegemony, Britain built more warships and gained even greater maritime supremacy.
In 1760, London established a Ship Surveyors Association. It was a nongovernmental organization that maintained technical standards for the construction and operation of ships and offshore facilities. Its usual work involved supervising shipbuilding and conducting regular inspections to ensure navigational equipment met regulations. Those that passed received the appropriate certificates, ensuring maritime activities could proceed smoothly.
The convenience of having a certificate issued by this association was that it made it easier for shipowners to purchase insurance. Maritime insurance was indispensable during shipping voyages. In the nineteenth century, the seas were plagued not only by Berber pirates but also privateers, and maritime disasters were frequent as well. No one would insure a wreck or a leaking vessel.
Whether a ship met the standards was determined by the engineers and technical committee members of Britain's Royal Association of Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding. Even if a ship built in France met those standards, as long as