The Mariner's Blog

New Maritime Cybersecurity Requirements: What U.S. Vessel Owners Actually Need to Know
  • 28 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
New Maritime Cybersecurity Requirements: What U.S. Vessel Owners Actually Need to Know

Vessel navigation systems have crashed mid-voyage due to ransomware attacks. Not mechanical failures. Deliberate cyber intrusions. Captains discove...

Must-Have Training Books for Maritime Professionals
  • 27 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
Must-Have Training Books for Maritime Professionals

Experienced captains understand the value of maintaining comprehensive vessel libraries. Reference materials tend to disappear precisely when neede...

Understanding Steering Gear in Ships: An Overview
  • 27 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
Understanding Steering Gear in Ships: An Overview

Safe navigation depends on reliable steering. A vessel's steering gear is the system responsible for turning the rudder, allowing captains and navi...

Different Parts of a Ship Explained with Functions
  • 23 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
Different Parts of a Ship Explained with Functions

With over 109,000 vessels in the global commercial fleet, each weighing at least 100 gross tons, knowing your way around a ship is essential for pr...

ECDIS Compliance Requirements: Complete Guide to Electronic Chart Regulations
  • 22 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
ECDIS Compliance Requirements: Complete Guide to Electronic Chart Regulations

Understanding ECDIS compliance requirements has become critical for maritime operators. With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandatin...

Different Stages of Ship Design: Explained Step by Step
  • 22 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
Different Stages of Ship Design: Explained Step by Step

Building a ship is fundamentally different from manufacturing other large structures. Every vessel begins as an idea, refined through multiple desi...

Port and Starboard Of Vessels Explained: A Complete Guide
  • 21 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
Port and Starboard Of Vessels Explained: A Complete Guide

When you step aboard any vessel, clear communication becomes essential for safety. Mariners have used the terms port and starboard for centuries to...

Essential Boat Safety Checklist and Required Marine Equipment
  • 16 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
Essential Boat Safety Checklist and Required Marine Equipment

Recreational boaters face strict federal safety equipment requirements that many discover only during Coast Guard inspections. Vessels get turned a...

How to Identify Any Country's Maritime Flag: Visual Guide with Examples
  • 14 ene 2026
  • Maya Deiss
How to Identify Any Country's Maritime Flag: Visual Guide with Examples

Every vessel on the water flies a flag that tells a story. Maritime flags communicate a ship's nationality, vessel type, and operational status to ...

Understanding Ship Horn Signals: What They Actually Mean
  • 12 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
Understanding Ship Horn Signals: What They Actually Mean

Maritime sound signals serve as critical communication between vessels, particularly when visibility drops to nothing, and navigation relies entire...

Understanding the Different Types of Ships
  • 12 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
Understanding the Different Types of Ships

Maritime commerce operates on specialized vessels designed for specific purposes. Ships aren't designed randomly. Every hull shape, every deck conf...

How is Power Generated and Distributed on a Ship?
  • 8 ene 2026
  • Charles Hays
How is Power Generated and Distributed on a Ship?

Every vessel operating at sea functions as its own self-contained power station. From bridge navigation equipment to propulsion machinery, reliable...