Ships of the Sea
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.
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.
Episodes

4 days ago
4 days ago
45 min
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
4 days ago
45 min

Oct 8, 2026
Oct 8, 2026
28 min
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
Oct 8, 2026
28 min

Sep 24, 2026
Sep 24, 2026
45 min
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
Sep 24, 2026
45 min

Sep 10, 2026
Sep 10, 2026
46 min
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
Sep 10, 2026
46 min

Aug 27, 2026
Aug 27, 2026
43 min
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
Aug 27, 2026
43 min

Aug 13, 2026
Aug 13, 2026
32 min
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
Aug 13, 2026
32 min

Jul 30, 2026
Jul 30, 2026
27 min
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
Jul 30, 2026
27 min

Jul 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
1 hr 1 min
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
Jul 16, 2026
1 hr 1 min

Jul 2, 2026
Jul 2, 2026
54 min
Host Molly Taylor, Executive Director of the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, speaks with Myra Reynolds and Len James of the John S. James Company about what customs brokers and freight forwarders do, clearing imports with government agencies and arranging exports onto vessels.
Len, the family-business CFO and co-owner, describes growing up in the industry and how Savannah’s port ecosystem has changed since the 1980s. Myra recounts joining the company in 1977, becoming a licensed customs broker in 1986, and explains licensing, corporate permits, and the shift to remote filing, electronic documentation, and “single window” systems involving 47 agencies.
They discuss Georgia Ports Authority-led efficiency innovations (including COAT), post‑9/11 security targeting, inspections, radiation monitoring, and IPR enforcement, plus notable cases involving marijuana shipments and stolen vehicle exports. They also cover tariff-driven complexity, AI tools, national association lobbying, expanded customs port limits, recruitment challenges, and the breadth of commodities handled in Savannah.
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 looking 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 Customs Broker Basics
00:56 Len’s Family Business Story
02:36 Warehouse Work Lessons
03:40 Myra’s Path Into Shipping
05:06 Becoming a Licensed Broker
07:01 Savannah Brokerage Landscape
07:32 National Permits and Remote Filing
09:11 Tech Shifts and COAT System
12:30 GPA Efficiency and Early Innovations
16:24 Single Window and Customs Origins
19:07 Duties Tariffs and Counterfeits
22:33 Security Targeting and Inspections
25:41 Myra’s Marijuana Case Files
28:12 Post 9/11 Broker Partnership
29:59 Reporting Suspicious Imports
30:52 CFO Life and Tariff Stress
32:09 AI and Broken Systems
34:10 Lobbying for Tariff Delays
36:16 Tracking Rules and Proclamations
38:38 Expanding Port Limits Story
41:32 Careers and Skills in Brokerage
43:38 Youth Training Pipeline
48:11 Wildest Imports and Logistics
50:50 Partnerships and Final Takeaways
53:53 Support the Maritime Museum
Jul 2, 2026
54 min

Jun 18, 2026
Jun 18, 2026
39 min
Host Molly Taylor interviews Captain Judy Helmey of Miss Judy Charters on the Ships of the Sea podcast recorded in the Ships of the Sea Maritime Musuem located in the historic William Scarbrough House and Gardens about becoming a charter captain through sea school, time on the water, and mastering safety, responsibility, and people skills.
Helmey reflects on 61 years fishing - starting on her father’s boat as a child - and describes how the job requires roles from counselor to nurse, plus pairing customers with the right captain now that she runs the company. She shares navigation and seamanship stories, Gulf Stream distances and her past pace of 250 trips a year, learning storms with modern equipment, and extraordinary encounters including waterspouts/tornadoes, a submarine snagging her gear, and Navy live-fire zones.
She discusses sexism, varied clientele, famous passengers, reading birds to find wahoo, and her father’s influence, Savannah charter history, and conducting burials at sea, including sinking caskets.
CONNECT WITH US:
A looking 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 Introduction
00:42 Becoming a Captain
01:47 Best Parts of Charter Life
04:05 Running the Business Today
05:58 Knowing the Waters
08:05 Family Roots on the Island
10:03 Learning to Drive Young
13:13 Seasickness and Customer Care
15:41 Weather and Water Spouts
19:54 Safety and Seasoning
20:38 Submarine Snags Gear
22:01 Live Fire Hot Zone
24:42 Sexism on the Dock
27:15 Handling Every Client
28:37 Famous Faces Aboard
30:12 Birds Lead to Wahoo
33:15 Glitter Chum Trick
35:04 Dad’s Hustle Origins
37:19 Burials at Sea Finale
Jun 18, 2026
39 min

Jun 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
36 min
On the Ships of the Sea podcast, host Molly Taylor interviews Savannah Stevedore and operations manager Carter Hubbard about what stevedores do: plan and manage the execution of loading and unloading ships in coordination with the International Longshoremen’s Association, steamship lines, and the Georgia Ports Authority.
Hubbard explains how longshoremen handle physical work (unlashing, twist locks, driving trucks), clerks and checkers track container movements, and stevedores plan vessel stowage and oversee safe execution on the dock. He describes the industry’s shift from paper to tablets, the many roles required to move a container, constant troubleshooting from equipment and network issues, and handling specialized cargo like racing yachts, military gear, and breakbulk. The conversation covers vessel classes, hazardous and refrigerated planning, training, ship turnaround pace, and maritime career paths.
CONNECT WITH US:
A looking 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 Meet the Stevedore
00:23 What Stevedores Do
01:03 Longshoremen and Port Roles
02:17 Planning vs Execution
03:09 Clerks Checkers Explained
04:19 Ops Manager Responsibilities
05:14 Tracking Containers Today
07:20 Career Path Into Stevedoring
09:20 Ships Schedule and Pace
10:07 Troubleshooting and Redundancy
12:10 Terminals Unions Specialties
13:27 Breakbulk Yachts and Military
16:51 Ship Types and COVID Impact
18:52 Avoiding Complacency
20:18 Training the Crew
22:06 Career Paths In Ports
24:21 Container Planning Physics
26:07 Managing Massive Teams
27:17 Crane Speed And Workflow
28:48 Boarding Ships And Diplomacy
32:12 Life Aboard International Crews
35:12 Why Savannah Port Matters
Jun 4, 2026
36 min

May 21, 2026
May 21, 2026
29 min
Welcome to the Ships of the Sea podcast, an audio voyage from Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. In this introductory episode, producer Dee Daniels introduces host Molly Carrott Taylor, Executive Director of Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, and previews the new podcast exploring Savannah’s maritime stories.
Molly shares her background as a collegiate sailor and longtime art museum leader, how she came to Ships of the Sea after consulting on membership and fundraising, and highlights recent growth, including bringing in over 6,000 children in two years and increasing the budget to $1.2 million from $800,000 in 2022.
She explains the museum’s home, the 1819 William Scarborough House, Scarborough’s role in the Steamship Savannah Company, and the Steamship Savannah’s May 22, 1819, transatlantic voyage—now honored as National Maritime Day.
The episode previews community-focused education and STEAM field trips, events like Celestial Seafarer and Supper at Sea, rotating exhibitions, upcoming sequential-art stories of key ships, and future podcast topics on modern maritime careers such as pilots, stevedores, longshoremen, attorneys, and archaeologists.
CONNECT WITH US:
A looking 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 Aboard
01:02 Meet Molly Taylor
02:02 From Consultant to Director
05:31 Scarborough House Origins
05:59 Steamship Savannah Breakthrough
08:05 Schoolhouse Legacy
09:09 National Maritime Day Roots
11:04 Community Programs Vision
12:31 Signature Events and Exhibits
16:20 Hidden Maritime Careers
22:13 A Day in 1819
26:02 Hands On Learning Ahead
28:59 Closing and Support
May 21, 2026
29 min

May 19, 2026
Ships of the Sea Podcast | Official Trailer
May 19, 2026
May 19, 2026
2 min
Welcome aboard.
The Ships of the Sea Podcast takes you inside the stories that shaped Savannah ... from its earliest maritime history to the people and industries still moving through its waterways today.
In this short trailer, you’ll get a preview of what’s ahead: powerful stories, behind-the-scenes perspectives, and a deeper look at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum and the history it brings to life.
From groundbreaking voyages to modern-day maritime careers, this is where history, community, and the water all connect.
Subscribe now and join us as we open the treasure chest of Savannah’s maritime past.
CONNECT WITH US:
A looking inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
Museum EVENTS
Education and Group Programs
Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media
May 19, 2026
2 min







