The Impact of Soviet Shipping

by Simon Bergstrand, Rigas Doganis

Soviet merchant shipping represents a paradox. It is portrayed as a major competitive threat to European and American shipowners yet other sectors of Soviet industry are derided fortheir inefficiency, poor management and technical backwardness. Is shipping, unique among Soviet industries, able to take on the best the Western industrialized nations can offer and win; or is the threat more imaginary than real? This book sets out to resolve this paradox through a detailed analysis of the operations and impact of Soviet merchant shipping. Though much controversy surrounds Soviet maritime operations this is the first major objective analysis. Using new data sources and drawing on discussions with Soviet shipping managers, the book provides a unique insight into the workings of the Soviet merchant fleet. It sets out to analyse the size and nature of the fleet and assess its role in the different maritime markets, as well as examining the economic and commercial basis of Soviet shipping operations. Between them, the authors have many years experience in shipping. Simon Bergstrand is a graduate of the LSE and has first-hand experience of the shipping industry. He has lectured and published extensively in the field and is currently Senior Research Fellow of the Transport Studies Group, Polytechnic of Central London. Professor Rigas Doganis is Director of the Transport Studies Group and is one of the world's leading authorities on international transport. He is also the author of Flying Off Course - The Economics of international Airlines (Allen & Unwin, 1985).

192 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1987