A complete operational reference for bulk carriers
The Definitive Guide to Bulk Carrier Operations: A Master Mariner’s Perspective is a comprehensive professional reference covering every stage of dry bulk operations. Across 22 chapters, five parts and 765 pages, it distils decades of sea-going and shore-based experience into practical, structured guidance written in plain, direct language – the voice of a Master addressing his officers, not a textbook addressing a classroom.
The book follows the natural rhythm of a bulk carrier’s employment. It begins with the ship herself – structure, systems and certification – then moves through the complete cargo cycle: understanding the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, preparing and cleaning holds to the required standard, planning and executing loading, caring for the cargo on passage, and discharging safely and efficiently. It then addresses navigation and vessel handling, the safety, security and environmental framework within which every voyage takes place, and finally the commercial and managerial dimensions of command.
A short preview of every chapter can be read on this site. The complete book is published through Amazon as a paperback with a black-and-white interior.
The appendices
- Appendix A – Key IMSBC Code Information: summaries of selected cargo schedules and key test procedures, including the shipboard can test.
- Appendix B – Sample Checklists: cargo hold inspection, pre-loading, pre-sailing and mooring operations checklists ready to adapt to your own Safety Management System.
- Appendix C – Draught Survey Calculation Guide: a step-by-step procedure with a complete worked example and key formulae at a glance.
- Appendix D – Glossary: the essential vocabulary of bulk carrier and shipping practice.
- Appendix E – Useful Resources: a curated directory of regulatory bodies, industry organisations, classification societies, P&I clubs and further reading.
Bonus guides
- A Guide to RightShip Inspection Preparedness for Bulk Carriers – what vetting inspectors look for and how to prepare the ship and crew.
- The Master’s Comprehensive Guide to Flag, Class and P&I – understanding the three pillars of compliance and the Master’s role with each.