This is the first book to discuss twentieth-century merchant ship design in broad relation to developments in contemporary architecture and design. Uniquely, it also includes extensive discussion of cargo vessels, whereas writers have usually concentrated on passenger liners of various kinds. It al so considers the role that the sea and ships play in twentieth-century culture, and examines the iconography of the ship in contemporary society, especially in the context of the growth in popularity of holiday cruising. Writing on ships oftenstresses history and heritage while neglecting modern innovations in ship design, as well as the continuing centrality of shipping enterprise in national and international trade. By contrast, this is a book for ali those interested in the modern built environment, whose every aspect consciously or unconsciously reflects our own priorities and aspirations. In the maritime context, however, this environment is both mobile and transitory: that it leaves few monuments makes inlormed understanding especially important. Shipping today is more international than ever before in construction, operation and management, and ship designs rellect a constantly-evolving balance of welltried principles and e.xperiment. This book discusses the essenti al practicalities 01 ship design and explores its contemporary cultural significance; in seeking to reclaim the modern ship as architecture it also celebrates the commerciai enterprise that shapes this uniquely-neglected dimension of contemporary design.