More Than Just a Boatwatching Guide
Know Your Ships is meant not only for those with a casual interest in the parade of nautical commerce that passes our shores, but also for more serious-minded individuals who have a passion for the ships that ply the inland seas.
About Our Book
Some refer to the annual Know Your Ships as the "Boatwatchers' Bible." Others have called it a yearbook for Great Lakes and Seaway shipping. We call it a field guide to all that floats on the inland seas. In addition to including everything ship fans need to know about the freighters, tankers, tugs, salties, passenger ships and other vessels sailing the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, Know Your Ships includes...
Complete data on hundreds of U.S., Canadian and international-flag cargo vessels, tugs, barges, Coast Guard and other government vessels, excursion boats and more in regular Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway service, including owner and port of registry, year and shipyard where built, length, beam, depth, cargo capacity and former names, plus type of engine, horsepower and top speed for major Great Lakes and Seaway vessels.
- Changes in the shipping scene from year to year are chronicled in the "Passages" section, the meanings of whistle signals are explained and the book also includes seven pages of colorful stack markings of all Great Lakes & Seaway fleets, including stack markings of many of the saltwater fleets that regularly visit the Seaway system.
- The 2012 edition also offers an expanded "Extra Tonnage" section that includes a Great Lakes/Seaway map showing loading and unloading ports, maps of the Welland Canal and St. Lawrence Seaway, a look at cargoes carries by lakers, a locks and canals profile and charts that show travel times and call-in points for the St. Marys, St. Clair and Detroit rivers. A new section lists major maritime museums ashore and afloat.
But That's Not All!
We continue to turn to the past with and Historic Gallery featuring more images from our archives showing lakers - and even a selection of stack markings - from bygone years. Know Your Ships has covered the waterfront for more than five decades, so we have lots of images from which to choose. We've enjoyed putting this issue together and hope you enjoy using it to find out more about the ships that sail the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Smooth sailing! ~ The Know Your Ships crew