WISTA tells children about the importance of shipping

A beautifully illustrated cartoon-style book has been launched to help teach children about the essential role of commercial shipping in society. The publication, Triton the Tug and his friends the Boats, is being released
in chapters one by one, in translation from the original in Spanish, written by Horacio Guillermo Vázquez Rivarola, a professor and staff officer of the National Nautical School of Argentina, and head director of the Argentine Maritime Museum Ing Cerviño.

Prof Vázquez, who is a qualified marine radio electronics officer, launched the book during his participation in the WISTA-UK Liverpool Forum, an event promoting the maritime industry and its links with Merseyside. The author of more than 20 books published in Argentina and Spain, including at the end of 2013 his much-praised volume Women in the Argentine Merchant Marine, Prof Vázquez said that his latest literary enterprise was designed to familiarise children with the part that shipping plays “in the lives of each and every one of us.”

 He said: “Very few people are aware that nine out of 10 of every-day things around us, from the food we eat to the gas in our cars, come to us on merchant ships travelling thousands of miles on the oceans.” Prof Vázquez said that organisations representing maritime professionals on five continents, and eight maritime associations from four countries were among those who have supported the project.

With colourful illustrations, chapter one of the children’s book, entitled We Made it on Time introduces a tug named Triton, a tanker named Lady Anna, a containership named Marco Polo, a passenger liner named Queen of the Seas and a coast guard patrol boat named Admiral Columbus. The story shows the value of teamwork between all parts of the industry at sea and in harbours. Prof Vázquez said that he and his collaborators planned to produce three more episodes of shipping adventures, and appealed for further funding for the project.