On January 25, 2001, it was 300 years since Peter the Great founded the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences. The School was later renamed into the Nautical School, the Marine Military School, the M.V. Frunze Higher Naval College, Peter the Great Marine Corps - St. Petersburg Naval Institute. The paper presents a review of fundamental works of the leading scientists of Petersburg School of Mathematics. These works were directed toward finding the solution to a number of problems which occurred in shipbuilding and navigation.