The Mariner's Blog

Magnetic Variation vs Deviation: What Every Navigator Must Know
  • 26 may 2026
  • Charles Hays
Magnetic Variation vs Deviation: What Every Navigator Must Know

A magnetic compass does not point to true north. Two separate errors, variation and deviation, pull the compass needle away from the direction show...

What Is GMDSS? Full Breakdown of the Maritime Distress and Safety System
  • 26 may 2026
  • Charles Hays
What Is GMDSS? Full Breakdown of the Maritime Distress and Safety System

Before GMDSS existed, a vessel in distress had to rely on a nearby ship monitoring the same radio frequency at the right moment. The Global Maritim...

How to Navigate Fog at Sea: Safety Tips and Procedures
  • 25 may 2026
  • Charles Hays
How to Navigate Fog at Sea: Safety Tips and Procedures

Fog can reduce visibility from miles to meters in a matter of minutes. Unlike a storm, which announces itself with wind and waves, fog arrives quie...

UNCLOS: The Law of the Sea Convention Explained
  • 25 may 2026
  • Charles Hays
UNCLOS: The Law of the Sea Convention Explained

Every maritime zone on a nautical chart, from territorial waters to the high seas, exists because of a single international treaty. The United Nati...

What Is AIS and How Does It Work? A Guide
  • 22 may 2026
  • Charles Hays
What Is AIS and How Does It Work? A Complete Guide

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is one of the most important pieces of navigation equipment aboard any commercial vessel. AIS broadcasts ...

The History of Lighthouses in the United States
  • 8 may 2026
  • Charles Hays
The History of Lighthouses in the United States

For more than 300 years, lighthouses have guided vessels along the American coastline, through narrow harbor approaches, and past dangerous shoals....

COLREGS: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
  • 6 may 2026
  • Charles Hays
COLREGS: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

On the open ocean, there are no traffic lights, lane markings, or stop signs. Two vessels approaching each other in a busy shipping lane need a sha...

Maryland State Flag: History, Colors, and What It Represents
  • 4 may 2026
  • Charles Hays
Maryland State Flag: History, Colors, and What It Represents

The Maryland state flag is one of the most visually distinctive state flags in the United States. With its quartered design of gold and black verti...

Essential Knots Every Boater Should Know: A Practical Guide
  • 10 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
Essential Knots Every Boater Should Know: A Practical Guide

Reliable knot-tying is one of the most fundamental skills in seamanship. A properly tied knot holds under load, releases when needed, and performs ...

COLREGs: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
  • 10 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
COLREGs: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, universally known as COLREGs, are the rules of the road governing vessel navigation...

How to Read Marine Weather Forecasts: A Mariner's Guide
  • 10 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
How to Read Marine Weather Forecasts: A Mariner's Guide

Marine weather forecasts provide the essential data behind every go or no-go decision at sea. Whether the passage involves a coastal transit or an ...

Types of Ship Propulsion Systems: Complete Overview
  • 9 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
Types of Ship Propulsion Systems: Complete Overview

Every vessel afloat depends on a propulsion system to convert energy into forward motion. The type of propulsion a ship uses affects its speed, fue...