Merchant Ship Construction - Especially Written For The Merchant Navy
By H.J. Pursey
Published by Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd: Glasgow 1963 Fourth Edition
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Merchant Ship Construction: Especially Written for the Merchant Navy by H. J. Pursey is a classic mid-20th century maritime engineering text written specifically for officers, cadets, and students within the Merchant Navy. First issued during the wartime era and presented here in its 1963 Fourth Edition, the book was designed as a practical educational guide to the structure, design, and operation of modern merchant vessels. Pursey, an Extra Master and lecturer in ship construction at the University of Southampton, combined technical expertise with clear instruction, making complex naval architectural concepts accessible to working seamen and examination candidates alike.
The book covers the essential elements of steel ship construction, including hull framing, bulkheads, decks, riveting and welding methods, tanker construction, launch procedures, shipyard practice, freeboard regulations, and longitudinal stresses. One of its most praised features is the extensive use of perspective drawings and diagrams, which were intended to help readers visualise structural components more easily than through conventional engineering plans alone. Contemporary reviewers and later maritime educators regarded the work as especially valuable because it linked theoretical principles directly to practical shipboard knowledge and Merchant Navy certification requirements.
Published by the renowned Glasgow nautical publisher Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd, the book became a long-running standard reference in maritime education, remaining in print through numerous revised editions for decades. Its continuing citation in marine engineering and naval architecture courses highlights its enduring influence within the maritime profession. Today, early editions such as this 1963 Fourth Edition are appreciated not only as technical references but also as collectible pieces of maritime history, particularly appealing to collectors of naval engineering works, Merchant Navy material, and vintage nautical textbooks."
General wear and minor chipping to clipped dust jacket. Book is in very good condition overall and hard to fault. Please study photos to further understand condition. Happy to provide more photos on request.
