There seemed a need for a modern and comprehensive book on Naval Architekture, and especially for one written more from the standpoint of a practising designer rather than from the more professorial angle of a teacher.
The Primary reason for the preparation of this work was to present the characteristics of a ship in such a way as to be of the maximum usefulness to officers of the Merchant Marine
Since the end of the Vietnam war, there has been an erosion in the capacity of the U.S. to defend its interests