No one knows when man first decided to venture out on an unpredictable sea, going so far away that there was no sight of land. Was it the search for food or new land or just plain curiosity that started it all?

Today, thousands of years later, we feel secure that vessels bound for distant places won’t fall off the end of the earth, and any ship sailing on international waters must fulfil international security requirements – even a ship such as the Götheborg III, a replica of an 18th-century sailing vessel that is now sailing from Sweden to China.

But going by sea still poses some risk, like running into modern-day pirates, stormy weather or treacherous waters. In spite of modern navigation systems, there are still places where a ship will need the help of a super-strong tugboat to safely guide its way.

Booming economies and increasing trade lead to an increasing need for more ships. 2004 showed a global rise in shipping not seen since the early 1970s. The fleet of the world’s container ships grew by almost 10 percent. And the ships are getting bigger, creating a demand for greater depths in ports. China has recently announced the building of what could eventually become the largest container port in the world. It is also producing some of the world’s largest and most advanced container cranes.

These are some of the topics covered in this issue of Evolution. We also offer you articles on SKF technology and products. On page 27 we bring you news of SKF’s advanced friction model that can help engineers select the most appropriate bearing for a particular application.

Enjoy your reading!