Published: June 2018
Captain Nick Nash, Master Mariner, FRGS, FRIN, FNI, shares his extensive knowledge and experience gained from over fourteen years in command of cruise ships.
The 361-page book covers the ‘mechanics’ of handling a large cruise ship and has primarily been written to help aspiring cruise ship captains to master the art. However, it will also be a useful source of reference for more experienced officers.
The book discusses:
- Ship’s equipment, including propellers, rudders and thrusters; podded propulsion systems; the rate of turn indicator; and radius track control systems
- Shiphandling theory, including berthing and lifting-off techniques, the pivot point, drift angle, and Bernoulli’s theory as it relates to ship squat and interaction
- The effect of wind and current and how to calculate the forces on the vessel
- Stopping techniques and emergency anchoring.
The appendix includes numerous approach/departure plans for ports around the world, based on the author’s own manoeuvring notes. Each port is illustrated with annotated route charts and practical guidance notes.
Captain Nash is a serving Master with Princess Cruises, part of the Carnival Corporation Group, and is also the current President of The Nautical Institute.
Produced to admirably high standards, the book is clear and direct and excellently presented. Whilst it is primarily intended to help new and aspiring cruiseship captains, it contains much of relevance to all ship handlers and deserves to become a standard reference work for many years to come.
