The extensive documentation linked to the sea in Maltese archives makes you realise the complex relationship of the Maltese with the seas around them.  Maltese territory includes more sea than dry land. This sea acts both as the link with the outside world as well as the barrier isolating the islands form the challenges of the ‘foreign territory’.  A constant preoccupation one feels while browsing the folios of extensive fonds is the issue of how to defend Malta from the perils of the sea.  It is the sea that provided so many bread-winning opportunities, yet the same sea that has robbed so many lives, whether in battles, piracy activities, or some other calamity.  The dangers of the sea are immortalised in the local saying ‘il-baħar żaqqu ratba u rasu iebsa’  (the sea is soft bellied but hard headed).  The geographical reality of Malta also meant a constantly predominant maritime industry strong on services – from piracy, to the Order’s use of the harbours, the use by the British Mediterranean fleet, to later industries of ship repair, shipbuilding, yacht marinas and the current flourishing cruise lining industry.