The heading is fairly self explanatory: will there be "friendly" npc shipping around the more hospitable parts of the neath? It seems appropriate that London itself would be flocked with firefly like ships which would gradually fade as you got further and further, but still finding the occasional adventurous steamer.
Or even a ship dead in the water up North, crew gone mad.
From the Progress page: "AQUAMARINE - early August. Neutral vessels, wandering phenomena. The Chelonate on its giant turtle-shell and the Promised Sea where the Fathomking holds court…" So, yep!