This book is a compendium of information on the modern cargo shipping industry worldwide. The 17,546 ships longer than 600' that are the backbone of the global supply chain are broken down with details on the ships along with cargo moved and major routes. The history of cargo shipping going back to the Egyptians moving obelisks by barge on the Nile is covered, but the focus is on the post-war revolution in shipping cost efficiency through specialization and geometric increases in vessel size. Intertwined with and the drivers of that development are the life stories of nine extraordinary men whose vision and fingerprints are all over today's efficient cargo shipping industry. There is a significant focus on Malcom McLean, the inventor of container shipping and the mentor of the author. Each of the primary shipping categories are covered in major chapters that include a unique census and breakdown of ships by category and sub-category based on precise sorts of AIS data, the digital information emanating from the ships. Additional chapters cover an array of topics affecting all ship segments. The goal of the author is to pull together all the elements of the worldwide cargo shipping industry in an interesting read that adds perspective on the industry and its critical role in the world economy. In 330 pages spread across 30 discrete chapters, that goal is achieved in a book that is an excellent primer for the uninitiated with insightful analysis for the initiated. A broader thesis of the book is that in addition to the cost efficiency the industry has delivered to the global economy, the trade it makes possible has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty and made the world more peaceful. With its broad sweep of the entire modern shipping industry and how it came about, this is a fascinating read that people both in and outside of shipping should find informative and enjoyable.
"Giants Of The Sea: Ships & Men Who Changed The World" covers the history and development of the modern cargo shipping industry in 330 pages spread across 30 discrete chapters. The history of cargo shipping going back to the Egyptians moving obelisks by barge on the Nile is covered, but the focus is on the post-war revolution in shipping cost efficiency through specialization and geometric increases in vessel size. With detailed information on what comprises each major shipping segment today, it also includes chapters on the nine men whose fingerprints are still all over the i