Book excerpt: Safety and Security at Sea is concerned with the safe operation of ships and consequently with preventing errors and oversights. This book contributes to safety where it is most effective - right at the site of work, on board the ship itself. It is here, indisputably, that it will prevent accidents and save lives. It translates theory into practice besides covering several new and current topics. This book is aimed at every deck officer - at every rank and on all ships. The book also attends to other manifest needs and discusses piracy, stowaways, management of crew on board and several other new and current topics in the interest of safety. All deck officers will find, when preparing for professional examinations, that the area which the oral section of these examinations at any level (Class One, Two or Three) cover - safety - is the one in which this book specialises. It will be an invaluable aid in passing these exams. By discussing essential details in every part of a voyage, parts that form different subjects in the theoretical section, it becomes an excellent reference book for them. In addition, it will also asist the staff of shipping companies in compiling ship operation manuals. This book includes the advice of various notices from the Marine Safety Agency and of guidelines from the International Maritime Organisation. It explains their requirements - International safety management code, emergency pollution control plans and others. In order to deal with ship board work thoroughly, this book takes an entire voyage into account. That is the reason for the sequence of its chapters to correspond to the progress of an actual voyage. The book begins with a ship embarking on a voyage and, in succession, conveys its message in a comfortable language. The last chapter leaves the reader at the beginning of another, but a safer, voyage. A summary is included at the end of each chapter.