Definitive group fleet history of a 'household name' Wide, international interest Superb collection of more than 500 photographs This massive new reference work is the first comprehensive, authoritative and detailed fleet history of one of the world's major international oil transportation companies. It is lavishly illustrated with over 500 photographs and supported by an army of documents relevant to specific tankers. The book begins with a brief group history and includes a chronology describing fleet developments from the early purchase of second-hand tonnage with the formation of the company. The first BP-owned oil tanker was the British Emperor, acquired in 1916, and the story continues to the rise of the giant behemoths of the 1990s and the new-builds at the start of this century. The book's core is the fleet list which includes specifications and histories of every ship owned by the British Tanker Company and BP Shipping, and all their associates. It includes subsidiary craft such as tugs, barges and support ships, and more than 1,000 vessels are examined in detail. There are photographs of every class of vessel along with plans showing stowage arrangements.
This book is a marathon achievement and befits a company that has carried oil from every corner of the globe. It will prove to be an essential reference work for maritime researchers, professionals in oil companies and all the supporting industries, and ship enthusiasts around the world. BILL HARVEY is an engineer on the Executive Committee of the World Ship Society, with eight published fleet histories, whilst Dr RAY SOLLY served as a navigating officer in the Merchant Navy and has four marine books published, including a technical history on supertankers.