Handling Cargo

A pictorial history of these special cargo ships, now lost to the mists of time.

Freighters of the 1950s and ’60s – with masts, booms & hatches – were the last of their generation. It was the end of an era, just before the massive transition to faster, more efficient containerised shipping and on larger and larger vessels. These were 'working ships', but many would be retired prematurely and finish-up under flags of convenience, for virtually unknown owners, before going off to the scrappers in the 1970s and '80s. For some ships, their life's work was cut and their decommissioning was quick.

In this new book, William Miller remembers the likes of Cunard, Holland America & United States Lines on the North Atlantic, Moore McCormack Lines to South America, Farrell Lines to Africa and P&O out East.

Book Features:

• An appealing new study from Mr Ocean Liner, following on from his recent First Class Cargo.
• Nostalgic photographs present 1950s and '60s freighters in port, handling cargos, at sea and underway, at dock and in shipyards.
• Mainly unpublished illustrations including many from an exciting newly accessed private collection.
• Charting the end of an era before containerisation took over the global scene.

80 colour and 96 b/w images

About the Author

William H. Miller, or 'Mr Ocean Liner', has written scores of books on passenger ships and is an acknowledged world expert in his field. He has received the National Maritime History Award in the US, the Silver Ribband Award and he created the passenger ship database for the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. He has been a lecturer aboard 75 different ships, including over 100 trips with Cunard.