Seamanship A Handbook for Oceanographers

By: Carvel H. Blair

The Seamanship A Handbook for Oceanographers is a book written by Carvel

H. Blair. The purpose of the book is to include not only the boat and deck equipment
handling but also navigation. Its approach has been to cover the essentials of each
topic while citing specific references for those needing additional information about
navigation. It briefly explains terms that are usually used onboard and gives the
addresses of the equipments referred to in the various navigation. It is intended to
help improve the newly graduated seafarers to be competent globally and do their
work correctly. It can serve as a textbook for formal courses which will become more
numerous in maritime university colleges. It can also serve as a reference book for
scientists who feel the need to refresh or improve their maritime skills.

In the book there are heavy doses of advice which is certainly what the
average beginning oceanographer needs when he/she first goes to the sea. It is
exactly that knowledge of what can go wrong that distinguishes the conservative,
experienced sailor from the uncertain novice. The author has taken pains to make
the presentation of the information more simple, direct, and clear to understand by
the normal readers. The problem or issue in the book was about the branches of
marine environment was so interdependent that the scientist must consider how to
combined them equally to perform well onboard. Another necessary branch of
knowledge, at least for those who handle shipboard equipment or operate research
craft, is seamanship. This is the skill which must be learned onboard by seafarers
just like any other discipline. The readers are shown how to plan the trip, assess the
craft used, interpret charts and tide and current tables, specify and assemble
needed equipments, judge the weather, depart the dock, navigate methods ,
anchor, return safely on port and dock the vessel properly. Students should
appreciate the direct approach to the problems they will actually face during work
rather than to rare events and theoretical situations. The volume is highly
informative and interestingly written as well. Its contribution to the field of maritime
industry is to inform newly graduated students who would like to enter onboard the
environment of their chosen work. The kind of information used was observation
and survey where the book was about some of the experiences of the writer and
survey are done by interviewing some of his co seafarers.

The book was really nice to read because it uses simple, direct, and clear
words that are stated the information straight to the point and easier to understand
by the readers. The book was advice and intended for the students to read
especially for students in maritime schools who can assess their self to be globally
seafarers after they graduated. They may benefit from their school works regarding
everything about navigation. I suggest to the writer to support his ideas with lots of
information for the validity of his work. I also want to recommend it to publish online
because it is not found in the internet and because it is very informative and fun to
learn and read.

-The End-