I wholeheartedly welcome UK P&I Club's Carefully to Carry Consolidated Edition 2018. When it comes to initiatives aimed at ensuring the safety of mariners, as well as the integrity of cargo, the shipping industry is without doubt or reservation ready to embrace them - even more so when, as this publication does, practical and valuable guidance are offered.

Most importantly, this publication provides a comprehensive and up-to-date companion to the people most concerned and at the centre of our attention, the seafarers. By encouraging best practice around the handling and storage of potentially dangerous cargo, this book will hopefully assist in reducing the number of tragic injuries and accidents that unfortunately continue to occur. Crew members who familiarise themselves with this guide and its recommendations can significantly reduce the possibility of cargo incurring any damage, with all the resulting costs that this can bring.

I cannot overstate the importance of the safe carriage of cargoes for the shipping industry and of course as my Association's top priority - see for example cargo liquefaction. While safety is the primary objective and loss prevention continues to be an ongoing concern for shipping, this book also touches upon a variety of issues, as vessels, cargoes and regulation become increasingly complex. In this context, the UK P&I Club has updated its Carefully to Carry publication to highlight the most current thinking in the industry.

Best practices, checklists, key points and considerations, and clear messages supported by photos and illustrations are some of the features of this manual that not only educate but also enhance the reader's existing knowledge. For example, it supplements insightfully the IMSBC Code, the IGC Code, and the BLU Code, among others, as well as complementary practical publications that should be read in conjunction with it, such as the recent Carrying Solid Bulk Cargoes Safely booklet.

Carefully to Carry is of course not limited to dry bulk cargoes, but also covers liquid bulk cargoes, gases, packaged cargoes and a long list of other cargoes. In fact, it encapsulates the full range of potential issues around transporting bulk cargoes, from the characteristics and risks inherent in specific goods, hold preparation and hatch covers, to best practice when loading and unloading and the regulations that shippers must abide by.

I congratulate the UK P&I Club for publishing in cooperation with Witherby Publishing Group this valuable guide.

Secretary General of Intercargo

Danny Cornelissen/portpictures.nl

Keith Couch of E L Johnson’s Sons & Mowat Ltd

MacGregor-Navire Org

Richard Minton, Minton Treharne & Davies Ltd

Wavespec Ltd