The Mariner's Blog

Louisiana State Flag: History, Symbols, and Pelican Meaning
  • Jun 16, 2026
  • Maya Deiss
Louisiana State Flag: History, Symbols, and Pelican Meaning

Few state flags carry an image as striking as Louisiana's. At its center, a mother pelican pierces her own breast to feed her chicks with drops of ...

What Is a Ship's Bridge? Types and Architecture
  • Jun 15, 2026
  • Maya Deiss
What Is a Ship's Bridge? Types and Architecture

On a ship, decisions that keep the vessel, crew, and cargo safe are made in one place: the bridge. People often picture a captain at a large wooden...

Hawaiian State Flag: History, Colors, and What It Represents
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • Maya Deiss
Hawaiian State Flag: History, Colors, and What It Represents

Look closely at the Hawaiian state flag, and something seems out of place. There, in the upper-left corner of a flag representing the 50th state of...

Best Marine Binoculars in 2026
  • Jun 11, 2026
  • Maya Deiss
Best Marine Binoculars in 2026

Choosing marine binoculars comes down to a few decisions that matter more than brand or price. The water is a moving, salty, low-light environment,...

Understanding Notices to Mariners: Importance in Safe Maritime Navigation
  • Jun 10, 2026
  • Maya Deiss
Understanding Notices to Mariners: Importance in Safe Maritime Navigation

A nautical chart is only as safe as its most recent correction. The seabed shifts, wrecks appear, buoys move, and depths change. A chart printed la...

What Is STCW? Complete Guide to Maritime Safety Training
  • Jun 9, 2026
  • Maya Deiss
What Is STCW? Complete Guide to Maritime Safety Training

Anyone planning to work at sea will run into four letters before they ever step aboard: STCW. The certificate proves a seafarer is trained to work ...

How Does Radar Work? Principles and Best Practices
  • Jun 8, 2026
  • Maya Deiss
How Does Radar Work? Principles and Best Practices

On a night or in thick fog, a ship's crew cannot see the vessel three miles ahead, but their radar can. Radar turns invisible surroundings into a c...

Beginner's Guide to Navigating a Boat
  • May 28, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Beginner's Guide to Navigating a Boat

Navigating a boat is nothing like driving a car. On the water, there are no road signs, no lane markings, and no pavement to follow. Fog, darkness,...

Why Does the Ocean Appear in Different Colors Around the World?
  • May 28, 2026
  • Charles Hays
Why Does the Ocean Appear in Different Colors Around the World?

Anyone who has traveled by sea or along a coastline has noticed that the ocean does not look the same everywhere. Open Atlantic waters off the cont...

What Is A Nautical Chart? Everything You Need to Know
  • May 28, 2026
  • Charles Hays
What Is A Nautical Chart? Everything You Need to Know

A nautical chart is the single most important document aboard any vessel. Unlike a road map, which shows highways and intersections, a nautical cha...

The Complete Marine Binoculars Guide for Boaters and Sailors
  • May 27, 2026
  • Charles Hays
The Complete Marine Binoculars Guide for Boaters and Sailors

A good pair of marine binoculars is one of the most practical tools aboard any vessel. Whether identifying a distant buoy in haze, reading the name...

What Is Nautical Freeboard? A Guide
  • May 27, 2026
  • Charles Hays
What Is Nautical Freeboard? A Guide

Every vessel floating on water has a measurement that directly indicates how safe that vessel is in its current loaded condition. Freeboard, the ve...