Supertanker

"NAVIGATING AND ENGINEERING OFFICERS REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR VERY LARGE CRUDE OIL CARRIER. TANKER EXPERIENCE PREFERRED." - Lloyd's List and Shipping Gazette.

THE advertisement captured Ray Solly's attention whilst he was on leave and demanded direct action! Viewed from the bridge of dry-cargo ships, the sleek lines of VLCCs and their potential navigational challenges always intrigued Ray - so, without hesitation, he grabbed the chance, leaving his current employer, and setting out to fulfil a dream. Supertanker examines life at sea aboard a 1970s monster where reader and author meet on board, encountering and overcoming exciting new challenges in navigation, ship handling, and cargo control. All the while, overshadowing everything else, is the awareness that this loaded ship carries around 80 million gallons of oil every day. But Supertanker is more than just the record of a new adventure. It lifts the lid on the realities of life far out at sea handling such behemoths and reveals why international safety and competency bars had to be raised.

Auteur

DR RAYMOND SOLLY served as a navigating officer in the Merchant Navy aboard supertankers and cargo ships. In 2000 he became an historical and technical maritime researcher and author. His books include the definitive Supertankers: Anatomy and Operation; BP Shipping: A Group Fleet History; Athel Line: A Fleet History; three tanker development manuals, and a trilogy describing life at sea aboard cargo ships. He lectures to maritime organisations, and lives in Folkestone.