"Marines" shaped the coastal landscape of Réunion for almost two centuries. Build along the coastline, they were essential to the island’s trade and economy. These facilities built by marine corporations consisted of landing stages on wooden or metal piles linked to the coastline by masonry to transport goods to warehouses built on dry land. They were used to load and unload people, livestock and goods carried from launches servicing ships anchored out at sea. These facilities were subsequently connected to the main railway line. The largest companies constructed branch lines to facilitate stevedoring. At their peak, in the 1860s, there were 17 landing stages and marines around the island.