This new edition of Ocean Ships again records the ever-changing shipping scene, amongst the many international deep-sea fleets operating regularly to the United Kingdom and northern Europe. The past two years have seen some remarkable changes in the shipping industry, again focused on the cruise and container trades. The growth in passenger cruising has continued unabated with the first cruise ship to exceed 100,000 grt now in service, the even larger Grand Princess shortly due for delivery and 142,000 grt cruise ships on arder. Within the international container trades, increased competition has resulted in a continuing realignment of consortiums, services and even companies. The recent stream of large new vessels has culminated in Sovereign Maersk, the first to exceed 100,000 deadweight. Less dramatic changes have occurred in the bulk and tanker trades, where owners appear to have learnt fram past mistakes and the trades have managed to overcome the violent fluctuations of previous cycles. Many national governments allow market forces to determine shipping investment, but others exert influence, either directly or indirectly. Over recent decades, some third world national fleets have rapidly expanded and then declined, whilst some eastern European government-owned fleets are now declining, as they face the harsh realities of an unsubsidised economy. The recent financial problems in Far East are already having an affect on some owners and shipbuilders in that region, and may continue to do so over the coming years. Even within the European Community, government subsidies and policies can create a false market, such as the recent German tax investment KG scheme support for large numbers of mainly speculative container ships. One of the most difficult decisions with each edition is the selection of representative photographs and I once again express my special thanks to Mike Lennon, Hans Krayenbosch, Jan Kakebeeke and other contributors for providing such high-quality material. I also thank Rod Baker far enduring my company on aur continental voyages of discovery, Gordon Colle and Stephen Grace for their assistance, other friends or correspondents far their encouragement and support, and to those owners or managers that have taken the time to respond to my enquiries. Finally, and most importantly, thanks to my unbelievably tolerant wife who allows me to spend so much time 'at my lists', collating and verifying information from numerous, sometimes contradictory, sources in the never-ending attempt to unravel the complexilies of current ownership and operation.