contact email: info@maritimematters.com
MaritimeMatters publisher, Martin Cox on QE2 (photo by Thomas DeBoe 2008)
Cox launched MaritimeMatters in 1997 to articulate a fascination with ocean
liners and cruise ships, to share his passion for collecting photographs and memorabilia relating to ocean liners and to provide a place on the
web for vessels less well covered in maritime history.
Growing up in the British port of Southampton, Cox witnessed the final departure of Cunard Line's QUEEN MARY. This left an indelible mark on the young boy. His retired Merchant Navy Uncle -- Edwin Hall, passed on his collection of ship's postcards and photographs. Martin's interest in liners and maritime research was born. As a member of the Southampton branch of the World Ship Society in 1977, he toured ELLINIS, VISTAFJORD, QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 and other container ships and cable laying vessels in the port.
Southampton Docks provided an amazing opportunity to see a multitude of ships from around the world. Frequent visitors to the port and some more unusual vessels included: ANDES, ARCADIA, AUSTRALIS, AURELIA, AUREOL, BRITANIS, CANBERRA, CAPETOWN CASTLE, CHUSAN, EDINBURGH CASTLE, ELLINIS, EUROPA, FAIRSTAR, FAIRLAND, FAIRWIND, FEDOR SHALYAPIN, FRANCE, GOOD HOPE CASTLE, HIMALAYA, IBERIA, ITALIS, LEONID SOBINOV, OCEAN MONARCH, S.A. ORANJE, ORCADES, ORONSAY, ORIANA, ORSOVA, NEVASA, NORWAY, NORTHERN STAR, PENDENNIS CASTLE, QUEEN ELIZABETH, QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, QUEEN MARY, REINA DEL MAR, ROTTERDAM (V), SAGAFJORD, SOUTHERN CROSS, SOUTHAMPTON CASTLE, UGANDA, UNITED STATES, S.A. VAAL, VISTAFJORD, WINDSOR CASTLE and others.
Completing his Fine Arts degree at Exeter College of Art and Design, in Devon, Cox moved to London, exhibiting his black & white landscape photographs. Fascinated by the American West, Cox eventually moved to California after his first solo US photographic exhibition in San Francisco. Later living in Los Angeles, he began to explore LA's passenger ship history and joined the Los Angeles Maritime Museum Research Society (LAMMRS), serving as President in 1997-98. Participating in the internet discussion group known as "the LinersList" in 1996, Cox then became "List Master" for a year and then established MaritimeMatters in 1997.
Teaming up with ocean liner journalist, Peter Knego in 1999, now contributing editor of MaritimeMatters, the website grew rapidly, regularly adding new ships, shipping news, company history, photographs of older liners and blogs from Knego's around-the-world photographic ship safaris.
In 2001, Cox took up the post of West Coast Column Editor for Steamboat Bill Magazine for a two year term.
Cox works as a freelance photographer www.martincoxphotography.com in Los Angeles and has held exhibitions of his photography in galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, London and Wales.
In January 2004 Martin Cox and Gordon Ghareeb curated a exhibtion called "Hollywood to Honolulu, the story of the Los Angeles Steamship Co" for the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.
Cox continues to expand Maritimematters ever upadting the content and design and adding new writers -- his Fine Photography continues through his studio in Los Angeles.
After eleven years of research, the heavily illustrated book "Hollywood to Honolulu, the Los Angeles Steamship Co" by Martin Cox and Gordon Ghareeb, published by the Steamship Historical Society of America, was published in April 2009. Hollywood To Honolulu, The Los Angeles Steamship Company published by Glencannon Press for The Steam Ship Historical Society of America