The Mariner's Blog

GNSS Spoofing vs. Jamming: What It Means at Sea
  • 30 sept 2026
  • Charles Hays
GNSS Spoofing vs. Jamming: What It Means for Bridge Navigation

The blue dot on the ECDIS can lie. In several of the world's busiest waterways, a receiver can display a confident, stable position that is wrong b...

Strait of Hormuz Transit Guidance 2026 Explained
  • 25 sept 2026
  • Charles Hays
Strait of Hormuz Transit Guidance 2026: What Changes When the U.S. Advisory Expires

Every U.S. maritime advisory for the Strait of Hormuz carries a printed expiry date. When one lapses, it is not the end of the guidance, but the st...

Paper Chart Withdrawal 2026: What UKHO Really Said
  • 24 sept 2026
  • Charles Hays
Is Paper Chart Withdrawal Actually Happening? What the 2026 UKHO Update Really Says

Word went around the fleet in 2026 that ADMIRALTY paper charts are "here to stay." The reality in the UK Hydrographic Office's own statement is mor...

ECDIS S-100 Compliance: "Ready" vs. Type-Approved
  • 22 sept 2026
  • Charles Hays
ECDIS S-100 Compliance: Why "S-100 Ready" Doesn't Mean Type-Approved

Walk a boat show or read a bridge-equipment brochure in 2026 and the same phrases appear on ECDIS units everywhere: "S-100 ready," "S-100 compatibl...

MARPOL Annex VI Explained: Air Pollution Rules for Ships
  • 18 sept 2026
  • Maya Deiss
MARPOL Annex VI Explained: Air Pollution Rules for Ships

Of the six annexes that make up MARPOL, one governs what comes out of a ship's funnel rather than what goes over its side. MARPOL Annex VI controls...

Best Celestial Navigation Books: A Mariner's Reading List
  • 17 sept 2026
  • Maya Deiss
Best Celestial Navigation Books: A Mariner's Reading List

The best way to learn celestial navigation is still a well-chosen book and a sextant in hand. Online courses and apps exist, but the discipline rew...

STCW 2026 Changes: New Requirements Every Seafarer Must Know
  • 16 sept 2026
  • Maya Deiss
STCW 2026 Changes: New Requirements Every Seafarer Must Know

On January 1, 2026, the training that every seafarer must complete before working at sea changed. For the first time, the foundation of Basic Safet...

UK ETS for Shipping: What the UK Emissions Trading Scheme Means for Vessel Operators
  • 15 sept 2026
  • Maya Deiss
UK ETS for Shipping: What the UK Emissions Trading Scheme Means for Vessel Operators

From 1 July 2026, shipping enters the UK Emissions Trading Scheme for the first time. Vessel operators trading into and around the United Kingdom n...

Polar Code Explained: IMO Requirements for Ships Operating in Polar Waters
  • 14 sept 2026
  • Maya Deiss
Polar Code Explained: IMO Requirements for Ships Operating in Polar Waters

As Arctic and Antarctic shipping activity grows, the rules governing vessels in the world's harshest waters have become essential knowledge for a w...

TimeZero Professional vs. TimeZero Navigator: Which Navigation Software Is Right for Your Vessel?
  • 11 sept 2026
  • Maya Deiss
TimeZero Professional vs. TimeZero Navigator: Which Navigation Software Is Right for Your Vessel?

TimeZero makes two versions of its marine navigation software, and choosing the wrong one means either paying for professional features a weekend c...

USCG Port State Control Inspections: The Publications You Must Have on Board
  • 10 sept 2026
  • Maya Deiss
USCG Port State Control Inspections: The Publications You Must Have on Board

A missing or outdated publication is one of the simplest deficiencies for a Port State Control inspector to find, and one of the easiest for a vess...

Bahamas & Caribbean Cruising Guides: What You Need for the 2026-27 Season
  • 9 sept 2026
  • Maya Deiss
Bahamas & Caribbean Cruising Guides: What You Need for the 2026-27 Season

The Bahamas and Caribbean cruising season runs roughly from October through April, and the boats that have the best seasons are the ones that provi...