Keepers of the Sea: The Story of the Trinity House Yachts and Tenders

On qualifying as a navigator he served as a junior officer in cargo liners before joining the Corporation of Trinity House.

An obsession with maritime history and access to Trinity House records resulted in the original drafts of Keepers of the Sea, which in 1978 won the Barbara Harmer Award, given annually by the Marine Society to the British seafarer judged to have made the best use of his leisure time.

After 11 years in command of several Trinity House vessels, which gave him a first hand experience of this subject, he came ashore and retired to pursue a career in writing.

Compared by the national press to Forester and O’Brian for his Nathaniel Drinkwater novels about Nelson’s day, he has now returned to produce this updated version of his first ever book.

A forward by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh sets the scene for this thoroughly researched and thoroughly enjoyable volume which details the story of the Trinity House yachts and tenders which have maintained and serviced the offshore lighthouses, lightships and buoyage around the British coastline since the reign of Henry VIII.

With over 160 illustrations, 44 in full colour, plus vessel plans and profiles, this book would make a great Christmas present for amateur and professional sailors alike as well as anyone else with an interest in the work of Trinity House.

Handbook for Marine Radio Communication: 4th Edition By Graham Lees and William Williamson. Published by Informa Professional. ISBN 1 84311 368 66 Paperback, 394 pages. Price £65 When the adoption of the automated Global Maritime Distress and Safety System in 1999 led to the demise of the specialist radio officer, the long serving reference text Handbook for Wireless Operators also disappeared. It is fortunate that Graham Lees and William Williamson, skilled practitioners of examining and teaching, with long experience of marine radio, have stepped in to fill the void.

It is a measure of the rapid evolution in this field that this is the authors’ fourth edition of this work since 1993. Whilst retaining the successful formula of the earlier works, this 4th edition embraces the latest developments in satellites and automated information systems.

It also attempts to glimpse into the future and developments such as the Galileo navigation system.

GMDSS is now well established as a marine communications system. Operational experience has led to changes in the regulations relating to its use.

Major changes in technology have been introduced since the 3rd edition was published, such as the launch by Inmarsat of their Fleet services with priority pre-emption. The IMO has advocated the use of GMDSS for communication during piracy attacks and there have been significant changes in the maintenance and testing of EPIRBs. In this edition the distress chapter and satellite communications chapters have been amended to reflect these changes. In view of their importance, a separate chapter has been devoted to EPIRBs and other sub-systems.

This extremely thorough work should be used as a standard work of reference by every licensed operator of marine radio equipment.

Keepers of the Sea: The Story of the Trinity House Yachts and Tenders
By Captain Richard Woodman
Published by Chaffcutter Books
ISBN 0 95324 2285
Hardback, 240 pages
Price £25