Jersey is the biggest island of the channel islands, and was separated from Europe because of the rising sea levels which commenced the start of maritime history. Jersey started to trade with other countries and therefore they learnt new skills to earn money and to invest the money into maritime businesses. Jersey traded multiple things such as dried cod, wool, wine, leather and household goods.

Jersey cod merchants also traded cod-fish to other British colonies in the West Indies. Jersey also ended up trading cod-fish to brazil in exchange for sugar, rum, cotton and tobacco. Jersey benefitted from trading because it made them lots of profit to enable them to invest into the business.

In the 18th century Jersey became popular for ship building business. Jersey was required to build big ships to allow the merchants to take part in the Atlantic carrying trade. Great Britain was at war for 36 years in the 18th century which resulted in affecting the maritime trading and caused dangers. In the late modern period World War 1 and World War 2 occurred which saw the introduction of iron ships, steam and oil powered ships. However, the wooden ships that Jersey were building were extremely useful and enabled them to trade to South America, Hong Kong, and America and this also allowed people from Jersey to immigrate to Australia or New Zealand and other places. By the 1850’s Jersey had built 300-400 ships.