ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Obviously, as a leading P&I Club with very considerable tanker tonnage on its books, Assuranceforeningen Card has long acknowledged that 'prevention is better than cure', and has not only commissioned this work but has enthusiastically supported it throughout. This support was, as always, spearheaded by Nicolai Herlofson, Card's Managing Director who, for well over two decades, has actively shown that in terms of 'safer ships and cleaner seas' the role of protection and indemnity is as much proactive as reactive. In taking this position he has been actively supported by an innovative Card Executive Committee and Committee.
As also indicated in the Introduction, the idea for this type of Handbook originated some years ago with Captain Sigurd Thomassen, one of Card's tanker claims handlers and a former tanker master with a great deal of experience. Captain Thomassen was concerned about the many human failures he noticed in handling tanker claims and, as a result started to compile various materials and data about this issue. This material was eventually acquired by Card and formed the basis of the research which led to this handbook.
Several others from amongst Card's expert and highly professional staff have also given considerable help and assistance. Firstly, Sven-Henrik Svensen, Director of Card's Syndicate A and former Head of the Legal Division, provided guidance throughout the rather lengthy period it took to compile this work. Secondly, Captain Svein Dahl, the Senior Manager of the Tanker/Liquid Cargo and Oil Pollution Claims Division, and his devoted colleagues, provided feed-back, input, criticism and information whenever it was needed. To these and all other Card staff members our sincere thanks.
Tim. Gunner provided valuable improvements to the subject of cargo heating and crude oil washing from his recent work in those important areas.
Many references in this book are expressed in the masculine gender purely for convenience, and with apologies to the female pioneers who have become a welcome presence in the shipping industry. On the basis of competence and dedication today's female managers, masters, officers and crew have already shown that the words 'she/hers' can easily be substituted for 'he/his' wherever they occur. Nothing in this book is, therefore, intended to diminish the initiative or enthusiasm, of persons of either gender, in the dynamic fields of tanker management and operations.
As usual the superb skills of David Pearce, Paul Hannah and their colleagues at Tatham Pearce, who can transform a dreary table or dull statistic into a work of art, deserve special recognition and acknowledgement. They alone are able to turn a manuscript into an attractive and readable book.
As will be obvious, much of what has been written has been compiled from a variety of existing sources far too great to cite, credit or even acknowledge. We have used government and industry manuals, publications, guidelines and other materials freely in order to weave the fabric which holds this handbook together. We were conscious of the fact that many of these publications do not always lend themselves to easy reading and have thus adapted, revised, re-written and otherwise utilized these many sources into what, we hope, is a more readable form. However, we hasten to add that the handbook is not designed to take the place of officials manuals, guidelines, and rules. At best, the handbook is designed to make the reading of such publications a little easier and thus ensure that safer tankship operations will lead to cleaner seas. Although every care has been taken to ensure accuracy neither Assuranceforeningen Card nor the authors can be held liable for errors and omissions.

Halifax, N.S., Canada August 1994
John R Dudley Barry J Scott Edgar Gold