|
Books > Sport & Leisure > Transport: general interest > Ships & shipping: general interest
The remains of the world's most famous passenger liner, RMS
Titanic, were discovered off the coast of Newfoundland in 1985,
seventy-three years after it sank. Since then there have been
numerous deep-water expeditions to the wreck site, yet little has
ever been revealed about the details of these operations. Now, in
this fully updated book, Eugene Nesmeyanov recounts all the major
Titanic expeditions from 1985 to 2021, taking us on a journey
alongside the scientists, cinematographers and other specialists
who have visited the legendary wreck 21/2 miles below the surface
of the North Atlantic. A thorough analysis of the sophisticated
technical equipment used is presented, along with historical,
biological and other scientific findings, and rare material from
official archives and private collections.
Many people are familiar with the term 'dazzle design', but what of
its origins and objectives as a defensive practice at sea? And was
it the only approach to the painted protection of merchant and
naval vessels during the two world wars? David L. Williams examines
the origins of maritime camouflage, how it was originally
influenced by natural concealment as seen in living creatures and
plants and was followed by the emergence of two fundamentally
opposed schools of thought: reduced visibility and disruption to
visual perception. Dazzle, Disruption & Concealment explores
the objectives and design features of each of the various
strategies advocated as forms of painted protection by looking at
the scientific and artistic principles involved (the behaviour of
light and the process of vision). It considers their effectiveness
as a means of reducing visibility or in disturbing the
comprehension of crucial target attributes (ship's speed, distance
and bearing). It also identifies the key individuals engaged in
maritime camouflage development as well as the institutions set up
to conduct in depth research into these practices.
An immersive account of a tragedy at sea whose repercussions haunt
its survivors to this day, lauded by New York Times bestselling
author Ron Suskind as "an honest and touching book, and a hell of a
story." In March of 1984, the commercial fishing boat Wind Blown
left Montauk Harbor on what should have been a routine offshore
voyage. Its captain, a married father of three young boys, was the
boat's owner and leader of the four-man crew, which included two
locals and the blue-blooded son of a well-to-do summer family.
After a week at sea, the weather suddenly turned, and the foursome
collided with a nor'easter. They soon found themselves in the fight
of their lives. Tragically, it was a fight they lost. Neither the
boat nor the bodies of the men were ever recovered. The downing of
the Wind Blown has since become interwoven with the local folklore
of the East End's year-round population. Its tragic fate will never
be forgotten. In this "riveting man-vs.-nature story and compelling
tribute to those who perished" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review),
journalist Amanda M. Fairbanks seeks out the reasons why an event
more than three decades old remains so startlingly vivid in
people's minds. She explores the ways in which deep, lasting grief
can alter people's memories. And she shines a light on the powerful
and sometimes painful dynamics between fathers and sons, as well as
the secrets that can haunt families from beyond the grave.
This new book reveals the part played by the eight Bustler Class
Rescue Tugs built at the Henry Robb Shipyard during the Second
World War and will shed more light on the almost-forgotten part
played by this country's mariners. The men and women who were
rescued under the most trying of times and dreadful weather
conditions would no doubt have felt immense gratitude to the brave
souls who formed part of the huge maritime effort, both in war and
peacetime. This is the story of the small force of much-needed
rescue tugs that were built during the dark forbidding days of the
Second World War, when Great Britain had only the ships and men to
bring in the raw materials that were required to fight against the
might of Nazi Germany and its Allies. This compelling story shines
a spotlight on the small, but very significant work done over many
years by His and Her Majesty's Rescue Tugs in defence of the realm,
and which benefited seafarers all over the world. The author's very
detailed account of the contribution made by HMRT in general, and
the Bustler Class in particular, is an excellent read, and has
brought to life the immense impact that these rescue tugs have had
over many years, usually in dire circumstances, and especially
during the Second World War. Many of these ships also served with
the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and this story recognises the part
played by these heroic rescue tugs in accounts of many convoys that
crossed the seas and were attacked by hostile forces. This fine
volume will help to raise the profile of these magnificent small
and immensely powerful vessels, and of course their highly-skilled
crews without whom these heroic achievements would not have been
possible.
The story of the Great Liners begins on the Atlantic route between
the Old World and the New, between Europe and the United States. It
was the most prestigious, most progressive and certainly most
competitive ocean liner run of all time. It was on the North
Atlantic that the largest, fastest and indeed grandest passenger
ships were created. In this book, William Miller concentrates for
the most part on these Atlantic superliners. It has been a race,
sometimes fierce, that has continued for well over a century.
Smaller passenger ships, even ones of 30,000 and 40,000 tons, are
for the most part left to other books. The story begins even
earlier, in 1889, when Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II visited his
grandmother, Queen Victoria, and attended the British Naval Review
at Spithead. The British were more than pleased to show off not
only the mightiest naval vessels afloat, but the biggest passenger
ships then afloat, namely the 10,000-ton 'Teutonic' of the White
Star Line. These ships caught the Kaiser's royal eye. His
enthusiasm, his determination and, assuredly, his jealousies were
aroused. Her returned to his homeland determined that Germany
should have bigger and better ships.The world must know, he
theorized, that Imperial Germany had reached new and higher
technological heights. To the Kaiser and other envious Germans, the
British had, quite simply, had a monopoly on the biggest ships long
enough. British engineers and even shipyard crews were recruited,
teaching German shipbuilders the key components of a new generation
of larger ships. Shipyards at Bremen, Hamburg and Stettin were soon
ready. It would all take eight years, however, before the first big
German liner would be completed. She would be large enough and fast
enough to be dubbed the world's first "super liner". She would only
be the biggest vessel built in Germany, but the biggest afloat. The
nation's most prominent shipowners, the Hamburg America Line and
the North German Lloyd, were both deeply interested. It was the
Lloyd, however, which rose first to the occasion. Enthusiastically
and optimistically, the first ship was the first of a successive
quartet. The illustrious Vulkan Shipyard at Stettin was given the
prized contract. Triumph seemed to be in the air! The Kaiser
himself went to the launching, on 3 May 1897, of this new Imperial
flagship.Designed with four funnels but grouped in pairs, the
655-ft long ship was named 'Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse', honoring
the Emperor's grandfather. With the rattle of chains, the release
of the building blocks and then the tumultuous roar as the
unfinished hull hit the water, this launching was the beginning of
the Atlantic race for supremacy, which would last for some 70
years. Only after the first arrival of the trans-Atlantic jet in
October 1958 would the race quiet down. The 'Kaiser Wilhelm der
Grosse' was the great beginning, the start of a superb fleet of
what has been dubbed "ocean greyhounds" and later aptly called the
"floating palaces". Worried and cautious, the normally contented
British referred to the brand new Kaiser as a "German monster".
The 8th edition of Pearson's Canal Companion to the Severn &
Avon is increased from 96 pages to 160 pages and features a
square-backed spine with sewn sections for added durability.
COVERAGE: Includes the River Avon from Tewkesbury to Stratford; the
Stratford-on-Avon Canal; the Worcester & Birmingham Canal; the
Droitwich Canals; the River Severn from Stourport to Gloucester;
the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal; the Cotswold Canals from
Framilode to Lechlade; and the Grand Union Canal between Birmingham
and Braunston. THE CANAL COMPANIONS: A good guidebook should fulfil
three functions: encourage you to go; explain the lie of the land
when you're there; and provide a lasting souvenir of your journeys.
The Canal Companions tick all three boxes - and more besides. 77
editions have been published to date, amassing sales in excess of
half a million books.
Pasco's Boatyard started in 1771. When it was sold to new owners
Craig Brown and Chris De Glanville in 2013, one of their aims was
to preserve the traditions of wooden boats in the St Just Creek,
and to foster the shipwright skills required to build and maintain
them. Under previous ownership, the thrust of the yard's activities
had been towards mooring, wintering, and maintaining boats for
their owners-it was now time to change. One of the first decisions
of the new owners was to agree on a way of demonstrating those
skills and traditions, so what better way than to design and build
the first new Pasco's boat in over a decade? It would also
demonstrate to the local community the yard's commitment to
expanding maritime employment in the St Just area. There was no
better man to lead the team than Bob Edwards, who was a
well-established designer and builder of boats, as well as an
enthusiastic owner of an earlier Pasco's P21 Motor Launch. A few
discussions, and several nights of drawing plans and making
calculations later, and the stage was set for the new P23 to become
the next of the long line of Pasco's built boats. This book follows
that build.
When Alexander Noble established his boatyard in 1898, he probably
didn't realise he was also establishing a new Noble tradition.
Alexander's yard would soon be handed over to his eldest son
Wilson, who would set up Wilson Noble & Co. to build fishing
boats - although he would branch out into minesweepers when needed
in the Second World War. Meanwhile, second-youngest son James would
break out on his own, thinking that the future of boatbuilding lay
in yachts. Altogether, these companies built almost 400 boats, some
of which are still working today, and would be a fixture on the
Fraserburgh shoreline for nearly a century. Packed with images,
interviews and recollections from the crew, The Noble Boatbuilders
of Fraserburgh is a thoroughly researched tribute to these men and
their boats, and is a fascinating look into an industry that once
peppered our island's shorelines.
Flotilla sailing enables thousands of people every year to charter
a yacht and enjoy a holiday in a sunny foreign location: a group of
boats sails together under the guidance of a lead crew. In 1974,
the first holiday flotilla of eleven yachts set off from Aegina in
the Saronic Gulf of Greece and no-one involved could have had any
idea that they were at the beginning of something that would grow
so big. It is now possible to go flotilla sailing in every
continent of the world. The author traces how flotillas originated,
how new cruising areas were opened up and new companies formed. He
worked closely with the pioneers of this form of tourism who
willingly contributed to the research into what they called 'the
time of our lives': managers in one or other of the companies,
skippers or engineers in charge of the boats, and clients. The
second part of the book looks in detail at changes in some villages
and harbours of the Ionian Sea, an area where much of the
development has occurred through the influence of the boats rather
than land-based tourism. It draws on conversations with taverna
owners who remember when two visiting yachts was big business.
Every page has coloured reproductions from the original brochures
and cruising guides, and in the Ionian section modern photos are
set alongside equivalent views before the yachts started coming in
numbers. The book may be an introduction to flotillas, an insight
into the background of the companies which now offer charters of
this sort, or just a memento of a wonderful holiday.
For centuries, living afloat on Britain's waterways has been a rich
part of the fabric of our social history, from the fisherfolk of
ancient Britain to the bohemian houseboat dwellers of the 1950s and
beyond. Whether they have chosen to leave the land behind and take
to the water or been driven there by necessity, the history of the
houseboat is a unique and fascinating seam of British history. In
Water Gypsies, Julian Dutton - who was born and grew up on a
houseboat - traces the evolution of boat-dwelling, from an
industrial phenomenon in the heyday of the canals to the rise of
life afloat as an alternative lifestyle in postwar Britain. Drawing
on personal accounts and with a beautiful collection of
illustrations, Water Gypsies is both a vivid narrative of a unique
way of life and a valuable addition to social history.
In 1873 a company was formed to construct the first railway across
Canada. It soon branched out into shipping, chartering ships from
the Cunard Line for service between Vancouver, Yokohama, Shanghai
and Hong Kong. In 1889 Canadian Pacific would be awarded the mail
contract for the service across the Pacific and, by 1903, they
would purchase Elder Dempster & Company and begin sailing from
Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal. They obtained control of the
Atlantic, rail and Pacific routes, and later interest in the
Canadian-Australasian Line, becoming 'the world's greatest
transportation system', bridging two oceans and linking four
continents. Canada's largest operator of Atlantic and Pacific
steamships until after the Second World War, CP Ships boasted such
names as Empress of Britain, Empress of Ireland and Empress of
Canada. This new history of the shipping side of Canadian Pacific
includes a wealth of illustrations and a detailed fleet list that
will enthral maritime enthusiasts.
The book is about Liverpool docks and the dockland area its
history, strategic importance in times of peace and war; the kinds
of cargoes carried into the docks including slaves! The book
provides a complete timeline from the very earliest days right up
to the modern time a time when a new and even larger container dock
is being built and the advent of the new cruise liner terminal this
terminal having been at the center of a political and economic
argument between Southampton, Liverpool and the EU. The book also
speculates as to the future of Liverpool docks, and also, to a
lesser extent, the city itself."
Boatbuilding has been a traditional skill in Cornwall for many
hundreds of years. In the more sheltered waters of Carrick Roads,
on the leeward side of the Lizard peninsula, this tradition has
flourished almost since the dawn of time to the present day.
Pasco's Boatyard at St Just in Roseland has been in the forefront
of this tradition of boatbuilding, repairing, mooring and storing
boats for well over a quarter of a millennium. So much so that it
is part of the fabric of the south-west area of Cornwall. As a
strong commercial fishing area, Carrick Roads has led the way in
providing good quality seafood for the area and the wider nation as
a whole. Then as the move to larger mechanised fishing methods
gathered pace, the skills of the craftsmen at St Just were turned
towards the ever growing leisure and sporting section of the
sailing and boating community. Thanks to these skills and the
enthusiasm of the craftsmen at Pasco's, this tradition looks set to
continue for many decades to come.
The hey-day of the British gypsy caravan was short, only about 70
years, during which period it grew from a simple utility vehicle,
blossomed and flourished as a mobile work of art, then disappeared
from common sight. These caravans were masterpieces of woodcraft
and design, and the best of them cost as much as a small house.
Unlike any small house, almost half the cost was in the decoration.
This beautifully illustrated book presents the different types of
caravan and the great variety of art which was carved and painted
upon them and their brothers-in-transport, the old narrowboats.
While there were certain rules and conventions of style, the
decoration on and in all the types was ultimately governed only by
how much money could be spent. The caravan in particular was the
supreme status symbol among travelling people and its art the prime
means for expressing where one stood in the world.
At 11:40pm on 14 April 1912, Titanic collided with an iceberg in
the middle of the North Atlantic and began to sink. From the moment
the iceberg was spotted, the ship was on a collision course with
destiny, with the immediate aftermath of the collision becoming a
race against time for those on board to inspect the damage and
determine Titanic's fate. In this new study, the events of both the
evasive manoeuvres and the subsequent damage assessment are broken
down, order by order, moment by moment, giving a forensic analysis
of these crucial events. In doing so, with the backing of an
exhaustive collection of both historical and modern data, along
with over twenty years of personal research by Brad Payne, facts
are separated from myths and the most accurate truths about what
really happened aboard Titanic during these critical moments are
revealed.
A charming and characterful guidebook to the best of Britain's
diverse and fascinating canal network for all waterway enthusiasts.
Beautifully illustrated, this compendium uncovers the many
extraordinary, notable and surprising places to be found on
Britain's waterways. Our canals and rivers link into a diverse
3,000-mile-long network, and 101 Wonders of the Waterways shows you
that wherever you find yourself in the country, there will be
something nearby to give you a taste of this beautiful and
nostalgia-infused world. Canal cruising experts Steve Haywood and
Moira Haynes bring our waterways to life with their witty and
lyrical prose, including many lesser-known and often ignored places
- the best-kept secrets of Britain's canals and rivers. Some
examples of wonders include: * Historic Hungerford in Berkshire,
where William of Orange was staying when he was offered the crown
after the Glorious Revolution * The world famous Pontcysyllte
Aqueduct, soaring spectacularly on slender tapered columns 126 feet
over the River Dee below * Hest Bank, with its stunning views and
the only place where a canal runs so close to the seashore that you
can smell the seaweed from the back of your boat As well as lively
personal anecdotes, and insightful commentary on Britain's heritage
and history, this guide includes handy recommendations to help you
make the most of your visit to each wonder. This is the book you
will want to have in the back of your car, or stuffed into your
backpack, so you can find an idyllic place for a picnic, or the
perfect day trip for a long weekend.
|
Lighthouse
(Paperback)
Tony Parker
|
R429
R340
Discovery Miles 3 400
Save R89 (21%)
|
Ships in 12 - 17 working days
|
|
What was it that led a man to make lighthouse-keeping his life's
occupation - to select a monotonous lonely job, which takes him
away from his family for months at a time, leaving him in a
cramped, narrow tower with two other men not of his own choosing?
Lighthouse-keepers and their families opened their souls to Tony
Parker, who has been described as Britain's most expert
interviewer. With this revelatory portrait of a small community he
has given us an exceptional insight into the British character.
For more than 400 years, the big-gun warship stood as the supreme
naval war machine. It was not only a major instrument of warfare,
but a visible emblem of a nation's power, wealth and pride.
Battleships features 52 of the greatest warships to have sailed in
the last 500 years. Beginning with English king Henry VIII's
flagship, Henry Grace a Dieu, the book covers all the main periods
of battleship development, including the great sail ships, such as
Sovereign of the Seas, Santissima Trinidad and Victory. The advent
of steam-driven warships provides the core of the book, beginning
with the introduction of Gloire in 1859, and continuing through all
the major pre-Dreadnoughts, such as Inflexible, Maine and
Tsessarevitch. There is detailed coverage of the great battleships
of the two world wars, including Derfflinger, Yamato and Iowa,
while the book closes with the last new battleship to be
commissioned, Vanguard, in 1946. Each entry includes a brief
description of the battleship's development and history, a colour
profile artwork, key features and specifications. Packed with more
than 200 artworks and photographs, Battleships is a colourful guide
for the military historian and naval warfare enthusiast.
Lighthouses have been used as aids to maritime navigation for
centuries. They are highly recognisable and beloved features of our
coastline and waterways, treasured by communities and captivating
visitors. But how many are there and is it really possible to visit
them all? The British Lighthouse Trail is the only book of its kind
to provide a comprehensive listing of all lighthouses in Scotland,
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel
Islands accompanied by practical advice on how to reach them. The
author, an avid pharologist, set off on a quest in 2012 to visit
all lighthouses around the British coastline only to find that
there were many more lighthouses to be discovered. This
comprehensive book is the result of further extensive research and
significant travel. Over 600 lighthouses are featured - from the
perilous beauty of Shetland's Muckle Flugga Lighthouse to the
elegant serenity of Jersey's Corbiere Lighthouse. Complete with
helpful maps highlighting the location of every lighthouse in each
region and colour photography of a broad selection of our nation's
most weird and wonderful aids to navigation throughout, this book
is an indispensable guide to visiting and seeing some of our
nation's most majestic, historical and isolated buildings. Each
listing features a description of the structure, its light
characteristic as well as any notable designers. Access information
offers the best ways to reach or see each lighthouse, and whether
it is possible to explore inside the tower. Nearby or related
places of interest, such as other notable aids to navigation and
relocated lighthouse optics, are also included. Experience the
secluded joy of visiting tidal islands, watch waves lapping against
some of the most remote rock structures, and feel the magic of
walking in the footsteps of the lighthouse keepers inside the
towers. This book will guide you on countless journeys never to be
forgotten.
Painstakingly researched, this book contains much
never-before-published archival material, presented in traditional
storytelling style while still adhering to the strict rules for
historical revelation. The saga told chronicles the dawn of
steam-powered vessels in the early 19th century, and the resistance
to this first technology that allowed humans to artificially
overcome Nature to practical effect. While the brilliant Robert
Fulton's first "steamboats" proved their worth on rivers, lakes and
bays, there was deep skepticism that such vessels were capable of
overcoming the unpredictable powers of the sea. To prove that it
was possible for such a craft to cross the Atlantic Ocean, Captain
Moses Rogers designed not a "steamboat," but a "steamship," the
first of its kind. To most mariners, however, this vessel named
Savannah seemed so dangerous that they considered it nothing more
than a "steam coffin."
Explores the history of the US Navy's 11 new steel warships, built
during the late 19th century to advance American naval supremacy.
After the American Civil War, the powerful US Navy was allowed to
decay into utter decrepitude, and was becoming a security
liability. In 1883, Congress approved four new steel-constructed
vessels called the "ABCD" ships. The three protected cruisers
Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago were the first steel warships built
for the US Navy, whose 1880s-1890s technological and cultural
transformation was so total it is now remembered as the "New Navy".
This small fleet was joined by a succession of new and distinctive
protected cruisers, culminating in the famous and powerful Olympia.
These 11 protected cruisers formed the backbone of the early US
steel navy, and were in the frontline of the US victory in the 1898
Spanish-American War. It was these warships that fought and won the
decisive Battle of Manila Bay. These cruisers also served
faithfully as escorts and auxiliaries in World War I before the
last were retired in the 1920s. Written by experienced US naval
researcher Brian Lane Herder, and including rare photographs, this
book explores the development, qualities, and service of these
important warships, and highlights the almost-forgotten
Columbia-class, designed as high-speed commerce raiders, and to
mimic specific passenger liners. All 11 protected cruisers are
depicted in meticulously researched color illustrations with one
depicting the Olympia deploying her full sail rig.
Showcasing photographs and illustrations from a variety of
collectors' archives, The Unseen Mauretania 1907 reveals the Cunard
company's most luxurious ocean liner of the early twentieth century
as you have never known her before. When the Mauretania took to the
North Atlantic for the first time in November 1907, she was the
largest and fastest ship in the world, serving with her sister
ship, the Lusitania, for nearly eight years. Although the
Lusitania's life was cut short during the First World War, the
Mauretania continued to have an impressive presence at sea, holding
the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing until 1929.
This evocative visual history by maritime expert J. Kent Layton
follows her glorious career, which spanned four decades of the
twentieth century.
|
You may like...
Titanic
Stuart Robertson
Hardcover
R307
R206
Discovery Miles 2 060
|