The story centers on Dane Thorson , a trainee cargo master.
It is recognized for its fast-paced, suspenseful storytelling and as an early example of "dystopian plague" themes in SF literature. Plague Ship
Note: There is another, completely different book titled Plague Ship in The Oregon Files series by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul. The story centers on Dane Thorson , a trainee cargo master