Since 1973 the NAA has published a number of books on unique shipping topics, available to subscribers at reduced rates. The books below are recent releases. See here for more NAA books!

HUDDART PARKER: A Famous Australasian Shipping Company 1876-1961

Published November 2008: While writing a history of Huddart Parker, Auckland maritime historian Bill Laxon regrettably became ill and died. His draft script was taken over and completed by three of his friends - Howard Dick, Ian Farquhar and Tom Stevens. The 248-page book is the first definitive history of this important Melbourne-based shipowner. Huddart Parker was not only a famous Australian interstate shipping company but also the only one to maintain a passenger line to New Zealand. Its coastal liners Westralia and Zealandia, trans-Tasman liners Ulimaroa and Wanganella and Bass Strait ferries Nairana and Taroona were all household names.

The company also operated a fleet of interstate cargo ships, tugs at Melbourne and Port Adelaide, and excursion steamers on Port Phillip Bay. Besides shipping, it owned large coal mines, had shareholdings in many other companies, and was a pioneer investor in domestic aviation. This book records the history from the arrival of the founders during the gold rush of the 1850s, through the establishment of the company in 1876 to its takeover and withdrawal from shipping in 1961.

There are appendices on the Bay excursion trade, James Huddart's Canadian Australian Royal Mail Line, personalia, shore offices, tugs, collieries and the company's venture into aviation, as well as a detailed fleet list and comprehensive index. It is a soft-cover publication (250 x 176 cm) of 248 pages with 135 illustrations of virtually all the cargo and passenger ships, Bay steamers and tugs. The retail price is $45.00 but subscribers to THE LOG are offered the book at the special price of $35.00 (both prices inclusive of postage and packing to any address in Australia).
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AUSTRALIAN MERCHANT SHIPS - 2008
A major update of the 2005 edition, illustrated and in full colour
Compiled by Malcolm Dippy and Tony Starke
ISBN 978-0-9756896-2-2

Australian Merchant Ships - 2008 is an alphabetical listing of 774 current Australian flag merchant vessels of all types greater than 100GT or 25m length. Information includes vessel type, gross tonnage, length, propulsion and speed, owner, port of registry, builder, location and yard number, official number and previous names and dates.

Specific information on vessels is added where applicable and previous names are separately indexed. Murray-Darling River vessels have their own listing. Colour photographs of 59 representative ships are included. Australian Merchant Ships - 2008 is A4 size with 56 pages and card covers, and fills a real need in the absence of any commercial, government or other publication on the subject. Information available to May 2008 is included. Sample entries:

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Nautical Association of Australia Inc.
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