The Mariner's Blog

Correct Military Flags Order of Display: Best Practices to Follow
  • Mar 16, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Correct Military Flags Order of Display: Best Practices to Follow

Displaying military flags incorrectly is more than a visual error. At naval installations, maritime facilities, and aboard government vessels, it i...

Anchoring, Docking, and Mooring: Essential Knowledge for Every Mariner
  • Mar 13, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Anchoring, Docking, and Mooring: Essential Knowledge for Every Mariner

Knowing how to secure a vessel is one of the most fundamental skills in seamanship. Yet the terms anchoring, docking, and mooring are routinely con...

Tips for Navigating the Gulf Stream: Maps, Locations, and Key Facts
  • Mar 12, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Tips for Navigating the Gulf Stream: Maps, Locations, and Key Facts

The Gulf Stream is one of the most powerful ocean currents on Earth, and for mariners departing South Florida toward the Bahamas or Caribbean, unde...

Digital Transformation in the Shipping Industry: What Maritime Leaders Need to Know
  • Mar 12, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Digital Transformation in the Shipping Industry: What Maritime Leaders Need to Know

The shipping industry is undergoing one of its most significant structural shifts in decades. Digital technologies are redefining how vessels navig...

US Flag Code: Complete Guide to Rules, Etiquette, and Proper Display
  • Mar 11, 2026
  • Charles Hays
US Flag Code: Complete Guide to Rules, Etiquette, and Proper Display

The American flag is one of the most recognized symbols in the world, and the rules governing its display are among the most detailed of any nation...

Cruising Guide for Lake Huron: What Boaters Need to Know
  • Mar 10, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Cruising Guide for Lake Huron: What Boaters Need to Know

Lake Huron demands the same preparation given to any serious offshore passage. As the second-largest of the Great Lakes and the third-largest fresh...

U.S. Carriage Requirements for Nautical Charts & Publications on Board Ships
  • Mar 5, 2026
  • Charles Hays
U.S. Carriage Requirements for Nautical Charts & Publications on Board Ships

U.S. vessels operating in navigable waters must carry approved nautical charts and publications under federal law.  The regulatory landscape has sh...

SPICA Gateway Explained: Secure Navigation Data Delivery for Modern Vessels
  • Mar 3, 2026
  • Charles Hays
SPICA Gateway Explained: Secure Navigation Data Delivery for Modern Vessels

Updating an ECDIS should not involve a crew member carrying a USB stick from the ship's office computer to the bridge. Yet across the global commer...

Cruising Guide for New York's East River
  • Feb 20, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Cruising Guide for New York's East River

New York City's East River connects Long Island Sound to New York Harbor, offering recreational vessels a protected route between these major cruis...

Navigating the Dismal Swamp Canal: Full Guide
  • Feb 20, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Navigating the Dismal Swamp Canal: Full Guide

The Dismal Swamp Canal offers one of two routes connecting the Chesapeake Bay to Albemarle Sound along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Running ...

American Nautical Chart Selector: Complete Guide to Features, Benefits, and How to Use It
  • Feb 19, 2026
  • Charles Hays
American Nautical Chart Selector: Complete Guide to Features, Benefits, and How to Use It

Chart folio management is one of the most time-consuming parts of passage planning. During the appraisal stage alone, a navigation officer may need...

Tips for Navigating the Erie Canal and New York State Canal System
  • Feb 19, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Tips for Navigating the Erie Canal and New York State Canal System

The Erie Canal remains one of America's most historic and scenic waterways, offering boaters a unique passage across New York State. Stretching 363...