The Mariner's Blog

What Is Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) and How Is It Calculated?
  • 8 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
What Is Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) and How Is It Calculated?

Deadweight tonnage is one of the most commonly referenced measurements in commercial shipping, yet it is frequently confused with other tonnage fig...

Navigating Puget Sound: Essential Tips for Boaters
  • 8 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
Navigating Puget Sound: Essential Tips for Boaters

Puget Sound is one of the most rewarding cruising grounds on the U.S. Pacific coast, offering sheltered waters, dramatic scenery, and access to hun...

What You Need to Know About Low-Sulfur Fuel Requirements: IMO 2020 Sulfur Cap
  • 7 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
What You Need to Know About Low-Sulfur Fuel Requirements: IMO 2020 Sulfur Cap

On January 1, 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) enforced a global sulfur cap that reduced the maximum allowable sulfur content in...

Alaska State Flag: History, Symbols, and Maritime Significance
  • 7 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
Alaska State Flag: History, Symbols, and Maritime Significance

The Alaska state flag is among the most recognized and highly rated state flags in the United States. Adopted in 1927, more than three decades befo...

How to Read Tide Tables: A Practical Guide for Mariners
  • 6 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
How to Read Tide Tables: A Practical Guide for Mariners

Tide tables provide predicted times and heights of high and low water for specific locations, and knowing how to read them correctly is a fundament...

South Carolina State Flag: History and Maritime Significance
  • 3 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
South Carolina State Flag: History and Maritime Significance

The South Carolina state flag, with its white palmetto tree and crescent on an indigo blue field, carries one of the strongest connections to naval...

What Is MARPOL? The Ship Pollution Prevention Convention Explained
  • 3 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
What Is MARPOL? The Ship Pollution Prevention Convention Explained

MARPOL is the primary international treaty governing how vessels prevent and manage pollution at sea. Adopted by the International Maritime Organiz...

Cruising Guide for Lake Michigan: Ports, Routes, and Boating Tips
  • 2 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
Cruising Guide for Lake Michigan: Ports, Routes, and Boating Tips

Lake Michigan is the third-largest of the Great Lakes by surface area and the only one located entirely within the United States. Stretching 307 mi...

How to Get a Captain's License in the USA: Complete Roadmap
  • 2 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
How to Get a Captain's License in the USA: Complete Roadmap

A captain's license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is the credential required to legally operate a commercial vessel carrying passengers or ...

Navigating the Great Loop: Ultimate Planning Guide
  • 1 abr 2026
  • Charles Hays
Navigating the Great Loop: Ultimate Planning Guide

The Great Loop is a continuous waterway route that circles the eastern portion of North America, connecting the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the...

Chile Flag vs Texas Flag: What Makes Them Look So Similar?
  • 23 mar 2026
  • Charles Hays
Chile Flag vs Texas Flag: What Makes Them Look So Similar?

Few flag comparisons generate more curiosity than the Chile flag vs Texas flag debate. Side by side, the two look almost like variations of the sam...

Virginia State Flag: History and Significance
  • 18 mar 2026
  • Charles Hays
Virginia State Flag: History and Significance

Virginia's state flag is one of the most symbolically dense in the United States. With a deep blue field, an allegorical warrior figure drawn from ...