Glory years of a well-loved island service
Isle of Man Steam Packet Heyday, by Adrian Sweeney
In 1935 the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company had a surprisingly large mixed fleet of 17 vessels including steamers, coal and oil burners and turbine engines – cargo and passenger vessels – serving ports in the UK.
Fascinating snippets from the company's history covering 1935 to 1975 are found in Isle of Man Steam Packet Heyday. This satisfyingly detailed resource covers all kinds of material, including: the impact of the seafarers' strike of 1966; discussions with builders; inspections; complete fleet list facts and figures; and black and white and colour photos mostly from the author's collection. The author also reflects on the company's losses in the First World War and subsequent post-war rebuilding.
Compiled by Ships of Mann magazine editor Adrian Sweeney, the book will appeal to those with an interest in this specific era of the passenger shipping company, which was founded right back in 1830. The careful research which has brought the title to publication apparently included hours spent poring over the company's mid-20th century board meeting minutes – a fine effort which has yielded an interesting and useful addition to the canon of maritime company histories.
Isle of Man Steam Packet Heyday
By Adrian Sweeney
Mainline & Maritime, £19.95
ISBN: 978 1913 797065
Buy this book in the Nautilus Bookshop
While you're there, why not browse the rest of the titles in our unique maritime bookshop, which sells all the books reviewed on these pages.
Buy nowMore 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.