Mersey Ports  - Liverpool & Birkenhead

ISBN: 0 7524 2110 7 1

pp 128

Author: Ian Collard

Published by: Tempus Publishing Ltd, The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL3 2QG 

e-mail: sales@tempus-publishing.com

- Price £10.99 [$19.99]

Mersey Ports - Liverpool and Birkenhead is the third book by Ian Collard to appear under the Tempus Publishing label.

Manxman at Wallasey Landing Stage - site of the new Twelve Quays Terminal

Ian's first two books Mersey Shipping - The Twilight Years and Coastal Shipping - The Twilight Years were photo albums which allowed one to wallow in nostalgia for times long since past. In addition to the photographs, reproductions of shipping line advertisements and literature enhanced the trip down memory lane and left many younger enthusiasts envious of what they had been missed.  

Ian Collard's third book is not a photographic album though it is well illustrated in the usual manner. In addition to the historical pictures, once again complimented by further reproductions of shipping line literature, Mersey Ports - Liverpool & Birkenhead is very much a handy reference book.

The volume contains a history of the Port of Liverpool and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board/Company to the year 2000 with particular reference to the porst-war years of change. In addition there are statistical tables showing recent performance of the MD&HC. An index of Regular Direct Outward Services from Liverpool and Birkenhead in 1971 is also contained within the book as is a listing of berths used by companies throughout the port. This is a useful aid for locating the operating base of long defunct services.

Finally the book concludes with a look at present operations in 2001 and a listing of of regular services and their operational berths.

Contents:

Antenor - Blue Funnel

• Introduction
• Port of Liverpool Maps
• The Docks
• Seaforth
• Liners
• Coastal and Supply Services
• Present and Future
• Shipping Line Index
• Berth Appropriation
• Shipping Operators 2001

Mersey Ports - Liverpool & Birkenhead is an enjoyable and very useful contribution to the literature available on the port of Liverpool and will no doubt find its way on to many enthusiasts bookshelves. 

Ian's next work - Isle of Man Shipping - The Twilight Years - is due for publication late summer - and deals with Manx shipping services from 1960 to the present day.