The Complete Encyclopedia of Steamships Merchant Steamships 17982006comprises some 125 merchant ship types from the start of powered merchant shiptypes from the... » 

The Complete Encyclopedia of Steamships Merchant Steamships 17982006comprises some 125 merchant ship types from the start of powered merchant shiptypes from the start of powered merchant ship designs like small tugs andlarger passenger vessels to modern giants such as great and luxuriouslyappointed cruise ships and ultralarge crude carriers for the delivery of vastquantities of crude oil. This is the story of merchant ships in their firststeampowered forms with driver paddle wheels and then propellers to thegreat transatlantic liners the immigrant ships and tramp steamers to modernvessels with diesel or in a few cases nuclear propulsion for tasks as variedas icebreaking and the carriage of outsize single freight items. «