I’ve seen lots of repeated suggestions so far but no mention of these:
History: Blue Water Patriots (The American Revolution Afloat)by James Molo
Historical fiction: The King’s Coat by Dewey Lambdin, the first in a series which makes Patrick O’Brian seem as dry as sandpaper.
19th century time period fiction: The Captain’s Wife by Douglas Kelly
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;183321]I’m trying to find a decent biography of a modern-era shipping magnate to read. My first thought was Aristotle Onassis but all the books on him are about his mistresses, not his shipping business. There’s a lot out there on Cornelius Vanderbilt but it’s all a lot more about his trains than his shipping. I’m drawing a bit of a blank on where else to look. I might try Stavros Niarchos next. Anyone got any ideas?[/QUOTE]
Try this one: http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=14862876757&searchurl=tn%3Dhilmar%20reksten
Hilmar Reksten built up a large fleet of VLCCs and made a fortune when he positioned his 14 VLCCs in or near the Gulf when the Suez Canal closed in 1967. He later lost it all. Flamboyant and controversial. (Lots of books about him in Norwegian): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilmar_Reksten
He was behind the building of Viking Piper in 1975, later LB200, which is now on her way to the breakers.
There were several other Norwegian Shipowners who made it big in tankers during the same period, notably:
Sigval Bergersen d.y.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigval_Bergesen_the_Younger
Anders Jahre: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Jahre
I don’t know of any books in English about these two, however.
Other Norwegian Shipowners were more diversified and operated both tankers and liner tonnage, like:
Fred Olsen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrik_Olsen
He has (or have had) interest in many other businesses than Shipping, incl. the offshore industry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred.Olsen%26_Co.
At one time he was main shareholder in Timex Inc.
Although he was behind many new ideas in shipping and offshore, he was notoriously media shy.
Another traditional Norwegian Shipping company that is still a major force and active in many aspects of Shipping today is Wilh. Wilhelmssen. This was, as all the old Shipping companies in Norway a family business, with a strong founder and leader.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilh._Wilhelmsen
It is today operating a number Ro/Ro Carriers and is active in different businesses within shipping and logistics.
There are a lot about the company in English, but not about the family, past or present. Here is a bit about the present leader: http://www.wilhelmsen.com/about/invest/corporate/Management/Pages/Wilhelmsen,Thomas.aspx
PS> I sailed on Wilh. Wilhelmsen ships as OS from 1960-62 on their Europe - Far East and Europe - US East/Gulf Coast service.
If you want to be more current, there is always John Fredriksen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fredriksen
Lot’s written about him, both for good and bad.
There is an interesting little book called “Way of the Seahorse” about the Dant family, founders and owners of States Lines out on the West Coast. Written by Jack Dant, the owner at the time of the demise of the company. That and other things are addressed in the book. Out of print but a quick Amazon search will get you there.
For a fictionalized version of ship ownership, look for “The Shipping Man” and its sequel, “Viking Raid” by Matthew McCleery. You may not like the picture of ship ownership and finance that the books paint, but they seem to reflect the current reality. . .
There is a good book about John Jacob Astor’s attempt to develop the fur trade in the PNW. The book is [U]ASTORIA[/U], by Peter Stark, and takes place a couple of years after the Lewis and Clark expedition. The story only takes perhaps 20% on the sea, but is none the less a great read. The captain had his hands full with a number of voyagers and Scotsmen aboard that Astor had hired to run the fur trade business once they got out to the mouth of the Columbia River.
An interesting fact that came out is that the author said that in 1949 his father had sailed as a deckhand on the last commercial sailing vessel on the Australia to London grain run, on the S/V Pamir, owned by Gustaf Erikson, out of Finland. There was a discussion some time ago on gCaptain as to when this last trip was made, and what vessel made it.
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;183321]I’m trying to find a decent biography of a modern-era shipping magnate to read. My first thought was Aristotle Onassis but all the books on him are about his mistresses, not his shipping business. There’s a lot out there on Cornelius Vanderbilt but it’s all a lot more about his trains than his shipping. I’m drawing a bit of a blank on where else to look. I might try Stavros Niarchos next. Anyone got any ideas?[/QUOTE]
'White Star Line" about Cunard not modern era but neither is Vanderbilt.
A great book is In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette written by Hampton Sides - it’s a gripping, true story of Arctic exploration and incredible hardship and perseverance. What happened to the USS Jeannette crew was as tragic as that which befell the Endurance crew 36 years later in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
Carsten Jensen’s novel We, the Drowned is a fine book as well. It’s about Danish seafarers, their families, country, and a 100 year span of merchant and naval tradition, wars, and living the dangerous life of a seaman.
Both book are available at Amazon.com. Hope you enjoy them.
Very good and based on a real event. In light of the El Faro and the VDR voice recordings it is a bit spooky at times.
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This book is not only a #1 New York Times Bestseller but is the best-selling book of the year! And it’s about ships… or, to be precise, one ship, the Lousitania. From the bestselling author Erik Larson,
Dead Wake - Best seller - Interested? If so read more? Click here…
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This book on “Leadership on the High Seas” may be worth while reading for those who are still active and sailing “on the High Seas”: http://maritime-executive.com/pressrelease/book-golden-stripes-leadership-on-the-high-seas
Don’t know about the relevance for GoM operations.
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I would consider it except that the author came on here a while back spanking every thread imaginable with links to his book. It was really obnoxious and I’m not sure I want to support him.
Life On The Mississippi - Mark Twain. Best practical advice on piloting I’ve ever read.
Bamboola is still my favorite book of all time . . . . and I read a lot!!!
For anybody interested gCaptain sells that book @cappyduane mentioned. It has some good reviews, with and good collection of sea stories. You can find it here.
https://www.amazon.com/Steaming-Bamboola-World-Tramp-Freighter/dp/0140099220?tag=gcaptaincom-20
I read that one years ago. Enjoyed it, thoroughly.
I suggest fingerprints of the gods or practical loading of Merchant Vessels
Yes, a good book following an MMP 2nd Mate. Circa the 1990’s. Another good one is the “Warrior from Adelaide” if it hasn’t already been mentioned.
“Hungry as the Sea” by Wilbur Smith is also entertaining.