Ships of the Sea

Dee Daniels Media Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (5)
  • History
  • Biweekly

Step into the story of Savannah—through the lens of the water that built it. The Ships of the Sea Podcast, hosted by Executive Director Molly Carrott Taylor and produced by Dee Daniels Media, explores the people, ships, and industries that shaped one of America’s most historic port cities. From the groundbreaking voyage of the Steamship Savannah to the modern-day movement of massive cargo ships along the Savannah River, each episode uncovers the stories behind maritime history—past and present. You’ll hear from historians, industry experts, artists, and locals whose lives connect to the water in surprising ways. Along the way, we’ll also take you inside the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, where history, community, and creativity come together in the heart of Savannah. Whether you’re a history lover, a coastal explorer, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes of a global port city, this podcast opens the door. Discover the stories. Explore the past. See Savannah from a whole new perspective.

  1. Oct 22

    What It Takes to Get Goods from Ship to Shelf | Dave Manns

    Ships of the Sea host Molly Taylor interviews Dave Manns, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Port City Logistics, about the essential role of third-party logistics providers in moving goods through the Port of Savannah and connecting global supply chains to consumers.   Manns explains how Port City Logistics supports customers through drayage, warehousing, transportation, and distribution, including its 1.2-million-square-foot warehouse and the thousands of containers moving through its operations. He discusses the complexity behind everyday products reaching store shelves, the importance of efficiency and cost savings, and how logistics companies balance technology, automation, and hands-on expertise to meet the needs of diverse customers.   The conversation also explores Manns’s career journey across technology, automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and logistics, along with the lessons that have shaped his approach to leadership. He shares the importance of building trust, asking questions, continuing to learn, and creating a workplace culture where employees are encouraged to contribute ideas and understand how their work impacts the business. Manns also highlights career opportunities in supply chain management, from warehouse operations and forklift driving to data analytics, engineering, and specialized certifications.   Looking ahead, Manns discusses innovations that could reshape the logistics industry, including Port City Logistics’ work on linking containers for more efficient transportation, the potential of autonomous trucks, and the growing role of AI in analyzing data and reducing waste. He also emphasizes workforce development, mentorship, and the value of listening to employees on the warehouse floor. Throughout the conversation, Manns shares why Savannah’s maritime industry offers exciting career possibilities and encourages listeners to keep learning, asking questions, and finding ways to make a positive difference.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:42 What Dave Does 01:40 3PL And 4PL Basics 02:20 Port Centric Logistics 03:11 Drayage Explained 04:17 Warehouse Scale And Goods 05:53 Truck Types Breakdown 07:21 Warehouse Efficiency Hacks 08:06 People And Culture 10:18 Robots And AI Reality 12:53 Career Journey Origins 18:05 Mentors Trust And Questions 20:09 Wins Lows And Leadership 23:29 Logistics Through History 23:57 3PL Then and Now 25:05 Sears Pillow Airlift 26:46 Careers in Logistics 30:12 Systems and Data Wins 31:29 Engineering Better Work 33:01 Certs and Networking 35:44 Industry Complexity Today 37:34 Culture and Great Game 40:12 Future Tech and IREX 44:00 Parting Advice and Support

  2. Oct 8

    Inside the Georgia Ports Authority: Savannah’s Maritime Future

    Ships of the Sea host Molly Taylor interviews Griff Lynch, outgoing CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority, and Kevin Price, incoming CEO, about the scale, impact, and future of Georgia’s maritime industry and the Port of Savannah. Lynch and Price discuss the Georgia Ports Authority’s role in supporting Georgia’s economy, including its network of coastal and inland terminals, $1.8 billion in annual economic impact, and support of more than 605,000 jobs. They explore the strategic investments that have helped Savannah become the nation’s third-largest container port and the largest single container terminal in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the importance of rail, trucking, distribution, manufacturing, and agriculture to the region’s supply chain. The conversation also focuses on careers in the maritime industry and the many paths available beyond traditional port operations. Lynch and Price share their own unconventional career journeys, discuss the value of gaining experience across different jobs and departments, and highlight workforce development programs that give young people opportunities to build careers at the Port, including positions such as crane operators and other skilled roles. Looking ahead, they discuss the next generation of infrastructure at the Port of Savannah, including the planned expansion of Ocean Terminal, the future container terminal on Hutchinson Island, continued rail and highway connectivity, and the potential for a second Savannah River deepening project. Lynch and Price also share what makes working at the Port rewarding, the importance of thoughtful long-term planning, and why Savannah’s maritime industry offers an exciting career path for young people.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: Griff Lynch CEO Kevin Price President Georgia Ports Authority https://georgia.gov/organization/georgia-ports-authority   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome to Ships of the Sea 00:38 What Georgia Ports Does 02:24 Savannah’s Strategic Advantage 03:11 Griff Lynch Role 04:18 Investing Billions Ahead 05:26 Kevin Price New CEO 07:19 Why the Long Transition 08:04 Ports Careers for Students 09:55 Griff Education Path 12:21 Kevin Career Switch 13:24 Virginia and Terminal Ops 14:13 Why Port Work Hooks You 15:14 Port Scorekeeping Culture 15:50 Leading Thoughtful Change 16:35 Next River Dredging Plans 18:39 Environmental Mitigation Costs 19:55 Life Working Waterfront 20:23 Rail Yard and Trains 22:22 Port Careers for Kids 25:30 Savannah Terminal Expansion 27:14 Passing the Torch 28:24 Museum Support and Wrap

  3. Sep 24

    Eastern Terminals’ Frank Peeples Jr. on Savannah’s Port Supply Chain, Wood Pellet Exports, and Maritime Innovation

    Ships of the Sea host Molly Taylor interviews Frank Peeples Jr., president of Peeples Industries, about his vertically integrated Savannah-based port operations, including East Coast Terminal Company, Industrial Marine Services, Atlantic Marine Warehouse Company, and Atlantic Marine Logistics.   Peeples explains how owning land and facilities enables long-term planning, flexible labor, and turnkey service for customers, with East Savannah handling bulk and breakbulk cargo and West Savannah supporting container logistics near the Georgia Ports Authority with truck- and rail-served warehousing. He discusses logistics shifts driven by containerization, rail-to-container commodity transloading, and key exports such as wood pellets, including a lightning-triggered conveyor fire and the industry’s fire-prevention focus.   Peeples highlights his father’s patented wood-chip “densifier” that increased ship-loading efficiency, shares his mechanical engineering background, describes industry consolidation since the 1960s, and notes how tariffs and changing trade create new opportunities, global partnerships, and careers in maritime logistics.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media     FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome to Ships of the Sea 00:27 Meet Frank Peeples 01:11 Vertical Integration Strategy 03:49 East and West Savannah Operations 05:27 Rail Served Container Logistics 08:33 Key Commodities Wood Pellets 09:55 Warehouse Fire and Safety 11:27 Stevedoring Innovation Densifier 14:28 Frank's Path Into the Business 16:17 Savannah Port History and Containers 20:24 Georgia Exports and Empty Boxes 21:44 Best Days Building Supply Chains 24:34 Making Wood Pellets Work 25:11 Always Watching Markets 26:53 Tariffs Mean Opportunity 28:13 Unexpected Cargo Stories 28:57 How Peoples Began 31:57 Family Legacy Next Gen 33:41 Ports Are a Symphony 36:28 Partners Beyond Savannah 37:26 Ship Owners Trading Firms 40:22 Trade Shows Associations 42:33 Careers in Maritime 44:54 Closing Thanks Support

  4. Sep 10

    John McEllen on Designing Savannah’s Scarbrough & North Gardens

    Host Molly Taylor sits down inside the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum to chat with landscape designer John McEllen about creating and maintaining the Scarbrough Garden and North Garden at Ships of the Sea in Savannah.   McEllen traces his path from studying history at the University of Georgia to nursery work, running a design business, and completing an early historic landscape program at the University of Connecticut under Rudy Fabrizi, with exposure to sites like Monticello. He describes being recruited by director Jeff Fulton and working with founder Mills Lane IV, who favored “green on green,” leading to a compromise using seasonal color in large pots.   McEllen explains the parlor-garden layout, historically appropriate plant choices, key surviving elements from a 1970s planting, and the later North Garden design with architect Dan Snyder, including roses tied to Godfrey Barnsley and plants introduced during Oglethorpe’s era. The episode also previews a Michael Gibson topiary “wave” installation opening May 14, 2027, and highlights the museum bylaws that protect the gardens as an equal partner with the house and collection.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: Learn more about The Savannah Pilots Associations A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media     FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:42 John’s Career Origins 01:53 Historic Landscape Studies 03:39 Moving to Savannah 05:34 Designer vs Architect 06:12 Joining Ships of the Sea 07:53 Mills and Garden Color 10:29 Was There an Original Garden 11:43 Scarborough Garden Layout 14:48 1819 Plant Palette 16:35 North Garden Expansion 18:39 Arbor and Wedding Space 20:28 Sisters Garden and Roses 21:37 Oglethorpe Era Plants 22:02 Tea and Camellias 22:44 People Behind the Project 23:24 Why the Gardens Matter 24:02 Ancient Fig Cutting 25:09 Dream Gardener Journey 26:19 Mills Live Oak Lesson 28:32 Natchez Crape Myrtle 30:00 Fruit Trees Corner 30:42 Camellias And History 34:10 Tours And Recognition 35:46 Protecting Gardens By Law 37:36 Topiary Waves Project 40:47 Letting Go And Growth 43:02 Topiary Tradition Worldwide 46:14 Support The Museum

  5. Aug 27

    Savannah Port Security and Seized Cargo: Inside U.S. Customs and Border Protection with Lynn Brennan

    Ships of the Sea Podcast host Molly Taylor interviews Lynn Brennan retired assistant port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Savannah, about her 33-year career and the port’s growth to nearly 6 million TEU.   Brennan explains CBP’s seaport responsibilities, working with importers, exporters, terminal operators, and enforcing rules for about 40 agencies, plus using technology and trusted-shipper programs to target high-risk cargo. She shares seizure stories involving counterfeit luxury goods and pharmaceuticals, dangerous consumer products (hoverboards, Aqua Dots), narcotics hidden in tuna cans, cement mixers, and wood, smuggled gold coins, endangered-species items like a tortoiseshell-inlaid piano, and a 1999 case of 132 smuggled Chinese immigrants.   Brennan outlines CBP career paths, CBP’s origins in 1789, the Savannah Custom House history, and her post-retirement volunteering and maritime networking through the Propeller Club and SERAC.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: Learn more about The Savannah Pilots Associations A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome to Ships of the Sea 00:20 Meet Lynn Brennan 01:21 From Import Specialist Up 02:55 College and Career Pivot 05:06 What Port Directors Do 07:26 Inside Cargo Exams 08:10 Wild Seizure Stories 12:51 Stress and Mission Shift 13:44 Careers Across CBP 16:04 Tariffs and Classification 18:06 Customs History 1789 22:25 Tech and Trusted Trade 24:28 Supply Chain Trust 24:53 Human Smuggling Bust 26:53 Creative Drug Concealment 29:18 Endangered Piano Seizure 31:40 Savannah Customs House History 34:48 Tours and Modern CBP 36:51 Careers and Entry Paths 39:40 Life After Retirement 40:26 SERAC and Relationships 42:43 Museum Support Outro

  6. Aug 13

    Maritime Archaeology, Underwater Preservation, and Digital Public History with Kurt Knoerl

    Ships of the Seas podcast Host Molly Taylor interviews maritime archaeologist and Georgia Southern University history teacher Kurt Knoerl, who is moving to the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater to teach public, digital, maritime history.   Knoerl explains maritime archaeology as studying water-related sites—shipwrecks, wharves, shoreline and inundated sites—and describes student fieldwork in Savannah using mapping, GIS, and recording methods. He recounts entering the field after an archaeology elective, attending a Savannah conference, getting scuba certified, and studying at East Carolina University; he notes career paths via CRM firms and agencies like NOAA.   He emphasizes researching before diving, documenting sites before removal, and the high costs and risks of artifact conservation. Knoerl discusses his online Museum of Underwater Archaeology, salvage law and ethical concerns (including war graves and Titanic), permitting challenges, interest in Civil War wrecks like CSS Savannah, AI limitations in research, and sea-level rise threats to coastal heritage.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: Learn more about The Savannah Pilots Associations A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:51 What Maritime Archaeologists Do 01:37 Teaching In The Field 03:49 Finding The Career Path 04:55 Diving Requirements 06:46 Degrees And CRM Work 07:57 Favorite Finds And Sites 09:41 How Wrecks Are Documented 11:35 Conservation Costs And Risks 12:13 Museum Of Underwater Archaeology 14:33 Ownership Salvage And Laws 15:54 Shipwreck Ownership Battles 16:34 Titanic Museums Debate 17:51 Profit Versus Preservation 19:00 Wrecks as Gravesites 20:08 Why Context Matters 20:55 Maritime Archaeology Careers 22:03 Teaching Fieldwork Logistics 23:08 Sharing Finds With Public 24:31 Dream Savannah Wrecks 26:25 Advice for New Archaeologists 27:38 Technology and AI Challenges 30:54 Future Threat Sea Levels 31:38 Closing Thanks

  7. Jul 30

    Savannah River Pilots: Guiding the World’s Largest Ships Into the Port of Savannah

    Ships of the Sea Podcast host Molly Taylor interviews Trey Thompson, Master Pilot and President of the Savannah Pilots Association, about what harbor/river pilots do and how Savannah’s 20 pilots guide ships in and out of the Port of Savannah along a 35-mile channel using helm orders, buoys, and range markers.   Thompson describes training and licensing, the week-on/week-off schedule, dispatching and coordination with tugboats, docking pilots, and ship crews, and the growing use of larger container ships despite fewer ship calls. He emphasizes that the most dangerous part is boarding via Jacob’s ladder, recounting incidents including a ladder breaking and a serious injury from a heaving line, leading to helmet use.   They discuss simulations in Baltimore for larger ships and dredging studies, right whale regulations that reshaped pilot boats, the association’s 1864 formation, and plans to move the pilot base from Fort Pulaski to Lazaretto.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: Learn more about The Savannah Pilots Associations A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:52 What Harbor Pilots Do 01:48 Learning the Savannah River 03:04 Schedules and Pilot Boats 05:00 Boarding Dangers and Safety 07:23 Trey’s Path to Piloting 08:02 Training and Multitasking 09:33 Docking Pilots and Tug Coordination 10:59 Weather Traffic and Holiday Ops 12:25 Bigger Ships Simulators and Dredging 14:32 Leadership and Whale Regulations 15:24 Whale Encounters 15:53 Community Leadership Roles 16:25 Pilot Staffing Numbers 17:07 Apprentices and COVID 17:54 Captains and Conferences 18:47 Right Whale Boat Rules 19:28 Rough Runs to Ships 20:12 Savannah Pilots History 21:00 Master Pilot Selection 22:28 Moving to Lazaretto Base 23:49 Funding and Wake Concerns 25:25 Future Bigger Ships 26:46 Closing and Support

  8. Jul 16

    Sailing Through Legal Tides: Maritime Law Explored

    Host Molly Taylor interviews Savannah maritime attorneys David Sipple and Colin McRae of HunterMaclean about admiralty/maritime law, explaining that admiralty concerns ships, shipping, and navigable waters, while “maritime” is broader and laws seek international uniformity.   They discuss key doctrines including the Jones Act for injured seamen and the Limitation of Liability Act, plus collision vs. allision and the narrow channel rule. Case stories include the African Neptune allision with Brunswick’s old Sidney Lanier Bridge causing 10 deaths, the Golden Ray ro-ro capsizing near St. Simons with four crew rescued after 36 hours, the Archangel G collision that cut a shrimp boat in half, and the Sun Sapphire allision with an LNG dock.   They describe P&I Clubs, shipboard investigations, Coast Guard inquiries, “magic pipe” pollution cases, stowaways, and the practice’s 24/7 demands and collegial network.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS: HunterMaclean   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome and Guests 01:15 What Is Maritime Law 02:22 Key Maritime Statutes 04:17 Allision vs Collision 04:57 Bridge Disaster Lessons 07:04 How They Got Started 09:52 Admiralty Schools and Training 11:27 African Neptune Case 12:53 P&I Clubs Explained 14:43 Life Aboard Cargo Ships 17:33 Golden Ray Capsize 22:21 Salvage and Environmental Claims 26:28 Advice for New Maritime Lawyers 27:45 Archangel G Collision Story 29:50 Wheel Tied Off Crash 30:50 Lawsuit And Channel Rules 32:18 Danger Signal And Evidence 34:10 Coast Guard Oil Spill Call 36:33 Magic Pipe Pollution Cases 39:32 Bunkering And Big Spills 41:30 NRDA And Wildlife Costs 42:53 Territory And Inland Barges 44:54 LNG Dock Allision 48:22 First Onboard Fire 50:32 Lost At Sea In Brazil 52:08 Shipboard Meals And Culture 54:45 Stowaways And Repatriation 59:49 Maritime Lawyer Network 01:00:47 Museum Support Outro

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About

Step into the story of Savannah—through the lens of the water that built it. The Ships of the Sea Podcast, hosted by Executive Director Molly Carrott Taylor and produced by Dee Daniels Media, explores the people, ships, and industries that shaped one of America’s most historic port cities. From the groundbreaking voyage of the Steamship Savannah to the modern-day movement of massive cargo ships along the Savannah River, each episode uncovers the stories behind maritime history—past and present. You’ll hear from historians, industry experts, artists, and locals whose lives connect to the water in surprising ways. Along the way, we’ll also take you inside the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, where history, community, and creativity come together in the heart of Savannah. Whether you’re a history lover, a coastal explorer, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes of a global port city, this podcast opens the door. Discover the stories. Explore the past. See Savannah from a whole new perspective.

Information

  • Creator
    Dee Daniels Media Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Ships of the Sea

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