Sunset over the Red Ensign : the decline of the British deepsea shipping 1945-89
This thesis investigates the decline of the British deepsea merchant fleet over the period 1945-1989, a decline evident in both relative terms against its major competitors and from the mid-1970s in a dramatic fall in tonnage of the British-owned fleet. For the purposes of analysing the industry's poor performance, it is necessary to divide the period into three distinct phases: post-war reconstruction without radical innovation (1945-65); rapid technological and market developments (1966-73); and severe, prolonged depression (1974-89). Methodologically, therefore, explanations valid in one phase need not apply throughout the whole period. Chapter One sets out the scope of the study, sUlll1l8.I'ises the declining fortunes of British shipping, and explains the approaches used to identify its causes. Chapters two to six present analytical treatments of these causes. First, British technological changes. shipowners were slow to respond to the massive Second, they took a pessimistic view of the markets and were reluctant to engage in new ventures until the mid-1950s. In 1958-66 and again from 1973 all shipowners had to contend with severe depressions. TIlird, there was a lack of action in controlling operating
Shore, Philip
History
Sunset over the Red Ensign : the decline of the British deepsea shipping 1945-89. This thesis investigates the decline of the British deepsea merchant fleet over the period 1945-1989, a decline evident in both relative terms against its major competitors and from the mid-1970s in a dramatic fall in tonnage of the British-owned fleet. For the purposes of analysing the industry's poor performance, it is necessary to divide the period into three distinct phases: post-war reconstruction without radical innovation (1945-65); rapid technological and market developments (1966-73); and severe, prolonged depression (1974-89). Methodologically, therefore, explanations valid in one phase need not apply throughout the whole period. Chapter One sets out the scope of the study, sUlll1l8.I'ises the declining fortunes of British shipping, and explains the approaches used to identify its causes. Chapters two to six present analytical treatments of these causes. First, British technological changes. shipowners were slow to respond to the massive Second, they took a pessimistic view of the markets and were reluctant to engage in new ventures until the mid-1950s. In 1958-66 and again from 1973 all shipowners had to contend with severe depressions. TIlird, there was a lack of action in controlling operating
red decline_british ship investigates decline_british merchant fleet period decline evident relative_term major competitor mid dramatic fall british owned fleet purpose analyse industry poor performance necessary divide period three_distinct phase post_war reconstruction without radical innovation rapid technological market development severe prolonged depression methodologically therefore explanation valid phase need apply throughout whole period set scope_study decline fortune british shipping explain approach use_identify cause present analytical treatment cause first british technological_change slow respond massive second take pessimistic view market reluctant engage new venture mid contend severe depression lack action control operating