Great Michael was reportedly too large for the relevant French naval dockyard and had to remain in a commercial port some distance away. Ports that appear close on a map may be separated by geography that makes travel easiest by sea. Naval officials responsible for many ships would visit infrequently and might depend on local reports from people with less warship expertise or weaker incentives. The ship's disappearance illustrates the effects of infrastructure and maintenance institutions as well as the fragility of a wooden hull.
Notable Point · 26:43-27:55
How geography and maintenance helped destroy Great Michael
Great Michael's loss illustrates how an exceptional warship can decay when dock size, distance, and divided responsibility make routine inspection difficult.