In 1863, Svend Foyn introduced steam-powered whaling catchers, significantly enhancing the efficiency of Norwegian whaling operations. This innovation allowed whalers to pursue and capture whales more effectively, leading to increased yields and profitability in the whaling industry. The introduction of steam-powered vessels marked a turning point in whaling practices and had lasting impacts on marine ecosystems.

The introduction of steam-powered whaling catchers in 1863 marked a significant industrialization of the oceans. Modernist poets critiqued this technological exploitation of nature, using their works to reflect on the consequences of industrial progress on marine life and ecosystems.