Final answer:
The historic role of ships is highlighted as being of primary importance to the speaker, emphasizing their influence on cultural exchanges, trade, and power dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the importance of the ship itself compared to its historical role, according to the speaker. Considering the provided details, it seems that the historic role of the ship is more emphasized and valued. For instance, the Byzantine Serçe Limanı Shipwreck and the Battle of Bạch Đằng Research Project highlight the significance of maritime history in understanding cultural exchanges, trade routes, and socio-political landscapes. Additionally, Alfred Mahan's work on the influence of naval power and the referenced artifacts on sunken ships depict the critical role ships have played not only in commerce but also in shaping global power dynamics and cross-cultural interactions. Thus, the speaker views the ships more as vessels of cultural and historic meaning than mere objects.