Stories of skilled shipbuilders
Leith-Built Ships Volume 3, by R.O. Neish
Shipbuilder-turned-historian R.O. Neish is back with the latest instalment in his series on Edinburgh's shipyards.
Leith-Built Ships Volume 3 focuses on Henry Robb Ltd, the one shipyard remaining in the area after the Second World War.
Covering the period 1945-1965, the book starts with a boom in shipbuilding as Britain hurried to replace vessels lost in the Second World War. Money was still tight, though, and there was little investment in new machinery or protective equipment for the workers. As time goes on, the author charts the beginning of the decline in British shipbuilding.
The book is enlivened by anecdotes from Henry Robb employees, and is illustrated throughout with images of the vessels built at the yard.
Leith-Built Ships Volume 3: Henry Robb Ltd (1945-1965)
By R.O. Neish
Whittles Publishing, £17.99
ISBN: 978 18499 54815
Book reviews main landing page image: Wikimedia commons
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.