American traditional ship tattoo is a popular form of tattooing that has been around since the early 20th century. The designs usually include traditional maritime ships, such as clipper ships, barques, schooners and sailing ships. The designs feature bold outlines, vibrant colors and often include anchors, flags, and other symbols associated with the sea and sailing. American traditional ship tattoos are often used to represent a person’s love of the sea, or to honor their ancestors who were sailors or seafarers.