Features:
Half a century of NCL - A look back at the remarkable 50-year history of NCL, and its 'little white ships' that started the Miami cruise market. Allan E. Jordan
Boxboat pioneers - Profile of Contship Container Line, founded by the Ravano family of Lavagna, and the ships it operated. Malcolm Cranfield
DFDS 150th anniversary - DFDS celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and the first of a two features looks at the early years of a company that quickly became an international shipping force. Russell Plummer
Gallantry in the Irish Sea - Recounting the Holyhead and Moelfre lifeboats' 1966 rescue of the motor vessel Nafsiporos in hurricane force winds. Nicholas Leach
Maritime Mosaic - Shipping traversing the St Lawrence River, 20 miles from Montreal, includes boxboats and tankers, lakers and cruise ships. Marc Piche
Paddling down the Dart - Profile of Kingswear Castle, Britain's last operational coal-fired paddle steamer, which has a long and colourful history. Richard Clammer
View from the Bridge - Captain Colin Vogler, master of the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Malaspina. David Brown

Chartroom:
Ships mail - A selection of letters from readers.
Mystery ship - Can you identify this month's mystery ship?
Ports of call - Cruise ship calls around the UK in December. Andrew and Donna Cooke
Ships library - Reviews and details of new maritime books.

SHIPS OF THE MONTH - History of the Invincible class carriers, which successfully maintained British naval air power through changing times, Conrad Waters

Naval - US Navy orders amphibious warfare ship, leak compromises Indian submarine, and the RAN's new Hobart completes sea trials. Gary Davies
Cargo - Container ships to get bigger, Nordic Tankers expanding fleet, all change at Arklow, and Oldendorff expands bulker fleet.
Waterfront - Daniel Adamson restored, financial collapse of Hanjin Shipping, the Arctic attracts cruise ships, and busy times for the Panama Canal.
Ferry - Cal Mac begin new contract, new Mersey vessel planned for 2021, upgrades for P&O pair, and World's largest hybrid ferry. Russell Plummer
Cruise - Another boat accident, first ship for Dream Cruises launched, P&O Cruises orders largest yet, and Spitsbergen enters service with Hurtigruteri. William Mayes
Preservation - President on her way to breakers, Aurora returns from refit, and good news and bad from Long Beach. Nick Hall
Ships pictorial - A variety of ships pictured from around the world, including Terneuzen and Tokyo.

COVER The NCL cruise ship Norwegian Star; NCL has been operating for 50 years, and a history of the company can be found on pages 22 to 27.