Considers the marine transport of art works, comparing its relative advantages with those of air transport. States that the biggest disadvantages of marine transport are the extended time during which the escorts/couriers are engaged in a single operation and the lack of precisely quantified information concerning the environment as conditions experienced by art works transported by sea. Thus to develop an effective transport strategy, the mode of transport, the packing specifications, the insurance contract and the use of escorts/couriers must be considered together: a transport strategy where minimum cost is achieved without compromising the well-being of the art work. In this context marine transport has much to offer, and the experience gained in a closely monitored operation has wide applications: the transport of a large consignment of old master paintings from Cape Town to Southampton. All aspects of the transport strategy are discussed.