Journals, Articles, Books, Documentaries, Movies & Games About the Maritime Industry
Professional Journals
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"The 21st Century Maritime Workforce: Recruiting and training the next generation." This January-April 2017 issue Coast Guard Proceedings focuses on the U.S. Merchant Marine workforce and innovations in education and training for mariners. It is a must read for anyone interested in pursuing a maritime career or who is interested in the current challenges and opportunities for the U.S. Merchant Marine.
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Books (Non-fiction)
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Ninety Percent of Everything : Inside Shipping, The Invisible Industry That Puts Clothes On Your Back, Gas in Your Car and Food On Your Plate / Deep Sea and Foreign Going
by Rose George Ninety Percent of Everything takes you inside the invisible industry of merchant marine, revealing untold stories of the brave seafarers, contribution of the shipping industry and the unfortunate events that haunt the seas. Author Rose George travels on a Maersk Container ship for five weeks from the Port of Felixstowe to Singapore to get a first-hand experience of the “life at sea”. From sophisticated container terminals to dangerous pirate-infected waters, the author lives the life of seafarers (minus the work) to understand their perils and hardships. Unraveling the often “neglected” lives of seafarers and emphasizing the importance of the shipping industry to the world, “Ninety Percent of Everything” is a book every seafarer and non-seafarer must read. |
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Dynasties of the Sea: The Shipowners and Financiers Who Expanded the Era of Free Trade
by Lori Ann LaRocco Dynasties of the Sea is the first book to examine one of the most powerful forces in global trade and economic development: world shipping and the magnates who drive the industry. Operating from Monaco to Hong Kong, London to Athens, Singapore to Oslo, shipowners and their financiers have changed the world in every way. From transporting agricultural products from Brazil to Africa and the Middle East, to delivering Australian iron ore to China, to carrying Middle East crude oil to Asia and the Americas, to carrying almost every article of clothing you are wearing and every electronic device in the world, shipowners have enabled global economic development and helped raise the global standard of living. While ocean shipping remains one of the most important businesses in the world, it is also one of the most volatile. Affected by such imponderables as weather and political upheaval, shipowning cultures have maintained their commitment to an industry that has endured for centuries - and will continue to endure for centuries to come. |
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Fire on the Horizon
by John Konrad and Tom Schoder Blending exclusive first-person interviews and penetrating investigative reporting, oil rig captain John Konrad and veteran Washington Post writer Tom Shroder give the definitive, white-knuckled account of the Deepwater Horizon explosion—as well as a riveting insider’s view of the byzantine culture of offshore drilling that made the disaster inevitable. As the world continues to cope with the oil spill’s grim aftermath—with environmental and economic consequences all the more dire in a region still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina—Konrad and Schroder’s real-time account of the disaster shows us just where things went wrong, and points the way to a safer future for us all. |
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A Captain's Duty
by Richard Phillips It was just another day on the job for fifty-three-year-old Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, the United States-flagged cargo ship which was carrying, among other things, food and agricultural materials for the World Food Program. That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. The pirates didn't expect the crew to fight back, nor did they expect Captain Phillips to offer himself as hostage in exchange for the safety of his crew. Thus began the tense five-day stand-off, which ended in a daring high-seas rescue when U.S. Navy SEALs opened fire and picked off three of the captors. |
Books (Fiction)
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When marine engineer and very part-time spook Tom Dugan becomes collateral damage in the War on Terror, he's not about to take it lying down. Falsely implicated in a hijacking, he's offered a chance to clear himself by helping the CIA snare their real prey, Dugan's best friend, London ship owner Alex Kairouz. Reluctantly, Dugan agrees to go undercover in Alex's company, despite doubts about his friend's guilt.
When a tanker is found adrift near Singapore with a dead crew, and another explodes in Panama as Alex lies near death after a suspicious suicide attempt, Dugan is framed for the attacks. Out of options, and convinced the attacks are prelude to an even more devastating assault, Dugan eludes capture to follow his last lead to Russia, only to be shanghaied as an 'advisor' to a Russian Spetsnaz unit on a suicide mission. Deadly Straits is a non-stop thrill ride, from London streets, to the dry docks of Singapore, to the decks of the tankers that slake the world's thirst for oil, with stops along the way in Panama, Langley, Virginia, and Teheran. Richly spiced with detail from the author's 30 years sailing, building, and repairing ships worldwide, it is, in the words of one reviewer, "fast-paced, multilayered and gripping." |
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The Shipping Man
by Matthew Mcleery The Shipping Man is a story about a man who is not a part of the shipping industry but desperately wants to become one. The book will especially interest those who are inclined towards the commercial aspect of shipping. The Shipping Man is a work of fiction about a hedge fund manager’s adventures in the international shipping as he deals with Greek shipping magnets, Norwegian Tycoons, German Bankers and Chinese Traders. The book is a mix of both, a gripping novel and a ship finance text. It provides a look in to the business of ship owners and the commercial finance that surrounds it. It’s a must read for anyone who is interested in reading a book on dry subject like “capital formation of shipping”, but in an enjoyable and fun way. |
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Seized
by Max Hardberger A ship captain, airplane pilot, lawyer, teacher, writer, adventurer, and raconteur, Max Hardberger recovers stolen freighters for a living. In Seized, he takes us on a real-life journey into the mysterious world of freighters and shipping, where fortunes are made and lost by the whims of the waves. Desperate owners hire Max Hardberger to “extract” or steal back ships that have been illegitimately seized by putting together a mission-impossible team to sail them into international waters under cover of darkness. It’s a high stakes assignment—if Max or his crew are caught, they risk imprisonment or death.Seized takes readers behind the scenes of the multi-billion dollar maritime industry, Seized is adventure nonfiction at its best. |
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Freighter Captain
by Max Hardberger Freight Captain is a prequel to the above mentioned book “Seized” and is an actual account of Captain Max’s six months as master on the Motor Vessel Erika. Just like “Seized”, the Freighter Captain deals with the desperation and dangers of tramp shipping as the Captain and his crew fights a non-stop battle with corrupt agents, officials and charterers. From Stowaways to witch doctor, the crew of Erika face all kinds of perils at sea, escaping bandits, thieves and lawless countries. If you are a seaman or hold interest in shipping matters, then this adventurous and entertaining book is a must read for you. |
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First Voyage
by Anthony Palmiotti It's 1938, America is still in a depression and jobs are hard to come by... The Arrow is an old tramp freighter with a diverse crew. Patrick Welch is a young seaman making his first trip on the Arrow and must weather storms and ports of call trying to win the respect of the tough captain and the friendship of the rough and ready crew. Then, when the Arrow arrives in Hamburg, the Nazi movement is making life difficult for those who don't fit the mold of the new Germany. One of the crew wants to get his family out, but he has to rely on his crew mates. Will they rise to the challenge and bond together in order to outwit the pursuing Nazis? |
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Death Beneath the Waves
by Anthony Palmiotti It's early 1942 and America is unprepared for the war it has declared on Japan and Germany. The enemy, however, is not... Soon after President Roosevelt's declaration of war the German Navy dispatches U-boats to the U.S. east coast, Operation Drumbeat was known by the U-boat crews as the 'second happy time.' The hunting was good. Despite the odds, America's war machine and merchant mariners continue to deliver the goods. Through U-boat infested waters, the crew of the tramp steamer Arrow sail on, now with a detachment of Naval Armed Guards onboard, they have to learn how to survive in a hostile world. Picking up survivors, they feel lucky until one day they are the target of the torpedoes and find themselves engaged in a fight for their lives! |
Documentaries
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Where Can A Maritime Career Take You? Learn more about ship salvage. One of the largest salvage operations was the Costa Concordia. This is the documentary of the greatest ship salvage in history; the salvage of the Costa Concordia, which took 32 lives when it crashed and partially sank in 2012. The salvage cost over $1 Billion and some tricky engineering to complete.
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America's Port -National Geographic provides an unblinking view of this vibrant and colorful nerve center for global trade—the Port of Los Angeles. Get an inside look at this massive complex and the intrepid individuals charged with keeping it running smoothly and securely 365 days a year. It's a dynamic and dangerous 24/7 operation.
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The Biggest Ships in the World - The biggest ships in the world. Interesting facts about the biggest ships that are used in marine construction. World's largest ship is used in searching for gas and oil on the seabed.
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Boatlift: An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience - Tom Hanks narrates the epic story of the 9/11 boatlift that evacuated half a million people from the stricken piers and seawalls of Lower Manhattan. Produced and directed by Eddie Rosenstein. Eyepop Productions, Inc.
BOATLIFT was executive produced by Stephen Flynn and Sean Burke and premiered on September 8th at the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit: Remembrance/Renewal/Resilience in Washington. The Summit kicked off a national movement to foster community and national resilience in the face of future crises. |
Movies
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On April 20th, 2010, one of the world's largest man-made disasters occurred on the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. Directed by Peter Berg (Lone Survivor), this story honors the brave men and women whose heroism would save many on board, and change everyone's lives forever.
Oil Rigs are self propelled and have licensed mariners onboard. A must see for any aspiring mariner who wants to work on these rigs or the off-shore supply vessels that are needed to keep these massive rigs supplied with the materials and equipment they need. |
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Captain Phillips - In April 2009, the U.S. containership Maersk Alabama sails toward its destination on a day that seems like any other. Suddenly, Somali pirates race toward the vessel, climb aboard and take everyone hostage. The captain of the ship, Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), looks to protect his crew from the hostile invaders, and their leader, Muse (Barkhad Abdi). The pirates are after millions of dollars, and Phillips must use his wits to make sure everyone survives and returns home safely.
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The Finest Hours - Disney's The Finest Hours is in theaters January 29!
A heroic action-thriller, “The Finest Hours” is the remarkable true story of the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history.Presented in Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D, the film will transport audiences to the heart of the action, creating a fully-immersive cinematic experience on an epic scale. On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on the ships caught in its deadly path, including the SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston, which was literally ripped in half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly-sinking stern. As the senior officer on board, first assistant engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) soon realizes it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and inspire the men to set aside their differences and work together to ride out one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast. Meanwhile, as word of the disaster reaches the U.S. Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts, Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders a daring operation to rescue the stranded men. Despite overwhelming odds, four men, led by Coast Guard Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine), set out in a wooden lifeboat with an ill-equipped engine and little, if any, means of navigation, facing frigid temperatures, 60-foot high waves and hurricane-force winds. |
Games
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Ship Simulator is a simulation computer game which simulates maneuvering various ships in different environments, although without the effects of wind and current. It was developed by Dutch company VSTEP Ship Simulator Extremes is the name of the latest installment in the Ship Simulator series. It was released on August 27, 2010. Additions to the game include new locations around the world from cold Antarctica to warm Bora Bora as well as new ships (including official licensed Greenpeace vessels) and new dynamic and more realistic weather and water systems.
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TransOcean – The Shipping Company is your ticket to the world of gigantic ships and transnational transport empires. Build a mighty fleet of modern merchant ships and conquer the seven seas. Track your routes and real time, take the controls as ships enter and leave the harbor, and see to it that freight gets loaded efficiently. Keep in mind that time is money! Excessive lay days are taboo
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For More Books for Mariners Suggested By Captain John Konrad of gCaptain click here
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If there is a book, documentary video, movie, or game that may be helpful to stimulate interest by students in the Maritime Industry, please email the link and information to us.