Get a handle on your ship skills
Practical Ship Handling, by Malcolm C. Armstrong
First published 40 years ago, this admirably clear and straightforward guide now appears as a fourth edition, reflecting its continued relevance at a time when changes in the industry mean many 'super-sized' ships are being handled in harbours that were designed for much smaller vessels.
Malcolm Armstrong brings his experience as a shipmaster and pilot to explain the multiple challenges of safely controlling a ship and how to make the best use of available machinery and equipment, with a strong focus on the use of tugs and anchors.
There is also a lot of good guidance on bridge management, helm orders and good teamwork.
Whilst much has changed since the first edition was published, Captain Armstrong’s handy guidebook reminds readers that the fundamentals of safe berthing, unberthing, passing and anchoring remain pretty constant.
Practical Ship Handling
By Malcolm C. Armstrong
Brown, Son & Ferguson
ISBN 978 18492 70847
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
Memories of maritime adventures
Across the Edge: Pushing the Limits across Oceans and Continents by Peter ClutterbuckThe new memoir Across the Edge spans several decades of adventures sailing across oceans or crossing mountain ranges and continents.
Sort out your sextant skills
Reeds Astro Navigation Tables 2025, by Kendall CarterNew year, new astro navigation tables! The latest edition of this popular work gives a calendar showing where useful heavenly bodies will be each day in 2025, as well as guidance to help you practise navigating with your sextant using the sun and stars.
Well-researched history of mass maritime travel
Ocean Liners, by Anthony BurtonThe new title Ocean Liners has a great deal more to it than most books about liners and cruise ships, with plenty of technical content to appeal to an audience of maritime professionals.
True tale of a tragedy
Ship of Lost Souls, by Rod ScherRod Scher's Ship of Lost Souls reads like an adventure novel. Unfortunately, the book isn't fiction; it recounts the real-life 1906 grounding of the passenger liner Valencia and the deaths of over 170 people onboard.