Kings of the Oceans, 1961–1966, Ships Built for the Hellenes

The third volume in this illustrated comprehensive maritime register

Author

George M Foustanos

Publisher

Argo Publishing, Piraeus, 2002

Kings of the Oceans, 1961–1966, Ships Built for the Hellenes

Printing Details

First edition. Hardback in illustrated boards. 29 × 21.5cm, 339pp, text in Greek and English.

Kings of the Oceans: Ships Built for the Hellenes 1961–1966 is the third volume in a landmark 9-volume maritime reference series by the prominent Greek shipping historian George M Foustanos. The 1961–1966 period is widely considered the defining era of Greek maritime dominance. By the early 1960s, Greek shipowners controlled the largest merchant fleet in the world. This volume captures a transitional period in commercial naval architecture and global trade, with the rise of Japanese shipyards: Japanese shipbuilders (such as Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi) began dominating international contracts, becoming the primary builders for Greek owners looking for speed, efficiency, and massive scale; evolution into bulk carriers: While the late 1950s volume was dominated by traditional dry cargo vessels and early supertankers, the years of this book marks the true birth of the purpose-built dry bulk carrier designed for international ore, grain, and coal routes; and the "ULCC" prototype era, tankers grew significantly larger during this 6-year period, laying the groundwork for the modern mega-tanker fleets of the late 1960s and 1970s.

The book acts as a comprehensive fleet register and visual archive for every vessel delivered during the years 1957 to 1960, with detailed technical entries: each vessel delivered between 1961 and 1966 is listed with yard & build data including construction yard, hull number, delivery year, launch name, original flag, and managing company; specifications: gross tonnage (GRT), deadweight (DWT), length/beam dimensions, and engine/propulsion specifications, and the operational lifespan: full tracing of subsequent names, owner transfers, reflagging, resale history, and final fate (scrapping, wreck, or loss). Profusely illustrated.