Luxury liners loved by their crews
Italian Liners of the 1960s, by Ian Sebire
Ian Sebire's illustrated history tells the story of the four major ships created by Italian ship designer Nicolò Costanzi.
Costanzi was born in the naval city of Trieste, and it was his home that inspired his builds. Sebire fills the reader in on the historical context behind Costanzi's career, including an interesting fact about the designer's last name, which was changed from Cossancig to Costanzi during Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's Italianisation policy.
The book tells the stories of Costanzi's four standout vessels: Galileo Galilei, Guglielmo Marconi, Oceanic and Eugenio C. Each ship had its own unique history, from births onboard to mutinies. However, one thing all the vessels had in common was the crews' love for them.
Passenger Marc Lewis, who sailed on the Oceanic many times, describes the dedication the crew had to the ship, with the experience onboard making travellers feel like they were in Italy. The high-quality images compiled by Sebire also give the reader a real feel for what it would be like onboard one of Costanzi's liners.
More than half a century since Costanzi's death, his legacy lives on, with the ending of the book noting how social media has brought past crew and passengers together to celebrate the memories made onboard.
Italian Liners of the 1960s: The Costanzi Quartet
By Ian Sebire
Amberley Publishing, £15.99
ISBN: 978 13981 08066
More Books
Carving out a career
Ships' Figureheads: Famous Carving FamiliesThe decoration of ships with figureheads was a way to present the might of military and mercantile power for centuries. These days, the skills needed to make these sculptures are kept alive by experts such as Andrew Peters, who has worked on restoration projects such as the Cutty Sark tea clipper.
Knotty problems solved
The Knot Bible: The Complete Guide to Knots And Their Uses by Nic ComptonKnot-tying is a vital competency skill for seafarers, and this expanded edition of The Knot Bible by Nic Compton offers guidance on over 200 knots and their practical uses.
Why it's nice to splice
Splicing modern ropes, 2nd edition: a practical handbook by Jan-Willem PolmanSplicing rope is as an essential skill for seafarers as tying a knot, but some skills are disappearing. This definitive guide on why splicing gets more from your rope is a great stocking filler for all boaters, whether recreational or commercial.
Heartfelt and humorous account of a career founded on fishing
Welcome Home - Fish or No Fish, by Skipper John RobertsWelcome Home – Fish or No Fish is a memoir that carries readers from the shores of Grimsby across the world’s oceans, charting a remarkable career at sea.