One of the author's favourite locations for viewing ships is the Södertälje in Sweden, where the ships pass through a deep cutting on their way to or from ports on Lake Mälaren. The photograph of the Hans Lehmann (now the Ivan Bobrov) with its deep green hull and yellow navigation stands against the tree lined banks, making for an attractive picture.

Alongside the photos that show the vessel's distinctive hull shapes, the writing is a short but concise record, taking in builder and shipping routes. And you may well need this history in order to recognise some of these slightly aging beauties, since most of them have been renamed more than once and a few of them have even had surgery of one kind or another.

The Salita is a case in point. starting out Dutch in 1981, it was originally named Darell. Lengthened in 1986, it was later transferred to Coastal Shipping plc and its name changed to Inishark. In 1997 it changed identity and nationality again, sailing under the Maltese flag with the name Salina although the managers were Norwegian. One engine replacement and a few strokes of the paintbrush later, it became Salita.

For a woman to re-invent herself at that kind of age is a definite achievement.

Coasters 2007
Published by Bernard McCall
ISBN 9 781 902 953 342
Softback, 56 pages
Price £13.00