If shipwrecks were more common in the past, did people shipping things have a higher expectation that their stuff wouldn’t reach its destination?

Question

Like, did they just shrug and be like “oh well, I guess we aren’t getting our pineapples this year” or was it a rare and problematic occurence?

In: Other

Answer 1

Absolutely. Hence the phrase ‘when my ship comes in’ – which doesn’t refer to a passage on a ship or waiting for travel somewhere.

It means the ship in which you have a venture – either solo or as part of a group. If the ship completes its trade voyage you may well be a rich man, or you could be ruined if it never returns at all.