CALL FOR PAPERS. Travellers of the Sea – Conference on Maritime History, Marine Archaeology and Ethnology
We are pleased to announce the call for papers for Travellers of the Sea – Conference on Maritime History, Marine Archaeology and Ethnology. The travelling conference will take place at the Maritime Centre Forum Marinum, Turku, House of Sciences and Letters in Helsinki, Finland and at the Estonian Maritime Museum in Tallinn, Estonia, on 11th–13th June 2026.
It is organised by the Finnish Maritime History Association, the Finnish Maritime Archaeological Society, the Estonian Maritime Museum and the Maritime Centre Forum Marinum.
We aim to bring together scholars and students working on maritime history and related fields such as maritime archaeology, ethnology and maritime folklore. We hope to promote interdisciplinary encounters and discussions. The conference is intended for anyone working with topics somehow relating to the sea and maritime travel – previous experience with maritime history, maritime archaeology, or maritime ethnology specifically is not necessary.
The overall theme of the conference is travelling by sea, with no temporal or geographical limits. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, passenger trade, migration, and travel by sailors, ideas, and cultural influences. For example, presentations on passenger services abroad, travelling conditions on exploration and refugee voyages, and moving military troops by sea are very welcome. We take a multispecies approach to the theme and are interested in the travelling of humans as well as non-human animals and other living beings.
The deadline for proposals is 1st November 2025. In addition to individual papers, we welcome
proposals for complete three-to-four-paper panels. Please include the main contact person and their email, plus the names, affiliations, and emails for all the participants (including co-authors not planning to attend).
Proposals (up to 500 words) and are sent by email to conference secretary Emilia Syväsalmi (talous[at]smhy.fi). The participants will be notified of acceptance by 5th December 2025. The bi-annual, peer-reviewed journal Nautica Fennica will be offering participants the possibility to submit their papers in the journal. The publishing decisions will be made by the Nautica Fennica editorial board.
The conference will be held in-person, and we cannot guarantee hybrid participation. Conference
language is English apart from 11th June, when the new researchers’ meeting will be held in Finnish and Swedish.
Further information can be found on the conference website (https://www.smhy.fi/en/activities/travellers-sea-conference).
For any inquiries, please contact conference secretary Emilia Syväsalmi (talous[at]smhy.fi).
Matkustajia nousemassa F.Å.A.:n matkustajalaivaan.
Museovirasto (Finnish Heritage Agency), Suomen merimuseon kuvakokoelma FÅA – SILJA LINE.