There were not many textbooks on shipping available for the students in the early 1990s. Therefore it was decided to write "Shipping" in 1996. One year earlier, Niko Wijnolst had published "Design Innovation in Shipping", based on work at the Delft University of Technology.

The two books together offered a comprehensive insight and overview into the dynamics of global shipping and maritime innovation. Although the core of the books held its value, it was decided to make an update of the two b...