A concise historical survey traces the development of steam-powered merchant and naval vessels across roughly a century, describing early experimental engines and the gradual replacement of sail as hulls progressed from wood to iron and steel. It follows major engineering shifts—paddle to screw propulsion, compound and multiple-expansion engines, twin screws, forced draught, and the adoption of turbine machinery—and explains how these innovations changed ship construction, performance, fuel consumption, and commercial routing. The work compares maritime and land steam transport, reviews shipbuilding and dock developments, and supplies technical illustrations and archival material to document decade-by-decade progress.