Disaster at Sea

This book is a collection of accounts of some of the better-known disasters at sea which have occurred over the past 150 years. There have of course been many disasters, but the author has tried to select those which are of interest to the mariner, because of the questions they raise over navigation and seamanship, and those which are of more interest to the general public because they deal with human lives and the courage shown by men (and women) once the disaster has occurred. No mention is made of disasters which were the result of enemy action, but two extra chapters not related to any particular disaster, have been included. One is on Insurance, which plays a large part in any marine disaster, with a look at Lloyds of London, the best-known insurance market in the world. The other is on the Air Sea Rescue organisation of Great Britain. Many disasters occur in the crowded waters around the British Isles and this organisation, with its unique bringing together of rescue aircraft, ships, lifeboats and the Coastguards, plays a very significant part in the saving of lives.