"Maritime Calling" also refers to formal papers and competitions within maritime law and history:
: Essays such as The Call of the Sea by Lyle S. Russell describe it as an innate longing—an "orphan growing up on the wharves" who would trade every coin earned for a berth on the next ship out.
: Some essays use the term to describe the economic patterns of ships "calling" (visiting) specific ports. For example, research on the Economic Structure of Maritime Trade examines how port calls in Genoa evolved over time to compete with other Mediterranean hubs.
In a creative or personal context, a "maritime calling" often refers to the deep, almost spiritual pull individuals feel toward the ocean. This theme is central to many essays exploring seafaring life: