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- The latest issues: 327
Reviews
From Paper Charts to ECDIS By Captain Harry Gale FNI
This is another timely publication published by the Nautical Institute, which provides valuable information, and advice to mariners as the traditional paper chart is replaced by ECDIS during the next few years. Read the rest of this entry »
Square Rigger Days: Charles Domville-Fife
This book, subtitled “Autobiographies of Sail” was originally compiled in 1938 by Charles Domville-Fife to record the final days of commercial sail but unlike the wonderful books produced by Basil Lubbock which recorded in detail the ships and their trades, this book is the stories of those who actually sailed on them. Read the rest of this entry »
The Cairn Line of Steamships & Nautical Tales Beyond Leith
May 2020: Gilbert Wallace has generously decided to make this book freely available at the link at the end of this review. Via the 2 links you can either read the book on-line or download it to read offline. Please respect the author and credit Gilbert should you use any extract for purposes other than private research. Thank you
Following publication of his original book on the Cairn Line (reviewed in the July 2005 issue of The Pilot), Gilbert Wallace received a lot of additional information from ex Cairn Line seafarers and their families and as a result has now published a complimentary volume to the original book. Read the rest of this entry »
PILOT GIGS OF CORNWALL AND THE SCILLY ISLES
THE PILOT GIGS OF CORNWALL AND THE SCILLY ISLES
The pilot gigs of the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall are totally unique six oared open boats which were used to ship pilots onto ships arriving of the South West approaches to the United Kingdom. This feature actually started as a review of a fascinating book that I found in the bookshelf of a holiday let in Cornwall. Titled : “Azook: The Story of the Pilot Gigs of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 1666 – 1994”. Read the rest of this entry »
Sea of Glory
SEA OF GLORY: Nathaniel Philbrick
The book is a detailed account of the US Exploring Expedition undertaken between 1838-1842. The primary role of this expedition was to survey the Pacific from Antarctica to the NW coast of the USA in order to provide more accurate charts for the US whaling fleets. Read the rest of this entry »
Bow Towage Operations with Twin ASD Tugs
BOW TUG OPERATIONS WITH AZIMUTH STERN DRIVE TUGS
Henk Hensen
Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugs are now an increasingly popular choice by tug operators in the major ports, mainly due to increased efficiency and lower maintenance costs when compared to the Voith Schneider “Tractor” tugs. Read the rest of this entry »
The Great Port of Bristol
The Great Port of Bristol
Once again Snowbow have managed to compile a high quality collection of film footage recalling the golden age of British shipping. Read the rest of this entry »
Four times a Scapegoat
FOUR TIMES A SCAPEGOAT
BY CAPTAIN DOUGLAS HARVEY
This book has been quite difficult to review. The problem is that Captain Harvey is a perfectionist in an imperfect world and by his own admission doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Read the rest of this entry »
THE CAIRN LINE OF STEAMSHIPS CO. LTD. 1876 – 2005
THE CAIRN LINE OF STEAMSHIPS CO. LTD. 1876 – 2005Gilbert T. Wallace
May 2020: Gilbert Wallace has generously decided to make this book freely available at the link at the end of this review. Via the 2 links you can either read the book on-line or download it to read offline. Please respect the author and credit Gilbert should you use any extract for purposes other than private research. Thank you
This book provides a finely detailed history and account of the Cairn Line and represents a remarkable feat for the author who has self published the work. Read the rest of this entry »
Mariner’s Launch
Book review
Mariner’s Launch
by Ray Solley
This book is interesting because although it probably is an almost first hand
account of the author’s early sea going career through apprenticeship to
obtaining his 2nd Mate’s certificate, it has been written in the manner of a
novel thus enabling personalities and events to be portrayed without risk of
recognition. The book is therefore an authentic account of a schoolboy
leaving home to nautical college and embarking on an apprenticeship in the
Merchant Navy in the 1950’s. It is a light hearted and well written account
of life at sea at a time when the British merchant navy dominated the word’s
oceans and ports. The ships are brought to life and the daily life of an
apprentice on board a traditional cargo ship bristling with derricks and
their associated high maintenance hoists, guys, preventers, blocks, shackles
etc. will be familiar to all those of us who were fortunate to have served
on board such ships. With a large compliment of officers and crew such
ships ran to a leisurely schedule and again the characters encountered will
be familiar. Cargo handling in port gave plenty of time off to enjoy the
local sights, local (sometimes dubious) establishments and generally to
relax and to set up practical jokes with rival shipping companies. The 181
pages contain many black and white photographs from various
companies and colleges depicting the life of an apprentice learning the
various aspects of a career in the Merchant Navy. Excellent nostalgia.
Whittles Publishing www.whittlespublishing.com
Mariner’s Launch ISBN 1-904445-03-9 Price: £16.95
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