Charles Hays
Written by

Charles Hays

Author / Contributor

Charles Hays is the Sales & Marketing Manager at American Nautical Services, where he has spent nearly 17 years helping captains and chief officers of 500 GT+ yachts keep their ECDIS systems and digital chart libraries current, secure, and Flag State inspection-ready. Certified in ECDIS and holding an MBA from Florida State University, he also oversees the companys ISO 9001 Quality Management System, giving him a front-row view of what inspectors look for and where vessels fall short. Through his work at American Nautical Services and his weekly newsletter Bridge Watch, Charles covers chart compliance, Flag State requirements, and the regulatory updates that matter most to working maritime professionals.

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Digital vs Traditional Sailing Directions: Which Format Serves Modern Mariners Best?

Digital vs Traditional Sailing Directions: Which Format Serves Modern Mariners Best?

ADMIRALTY Sailing Directions have been a standard bridge reference for over a century, providing port approach procedures, coastal hazard...

Bills of Lading Explained: Types, Legal Requirements, and Importance

Bills of Lading Explained: Types, Legal Requirements, and Importance

A single document in maritime shipping serves three functions at once: a receipt proving the carrier received the goods, a contract setti...

What Is the FSS Code? Fire Safety Systems on Ships Explained

What Is the FSS Code? Fire Safety Systems on Ships Explained

The International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) is the IMO instrument that sets the engineering specifications every SOLAS vess...

What Are ADMIRALTY Digital Sailing Directions and How Do They Improve Passage Planning?

What Are ADMIRALTY Digital Sailing Directions and How Do They Improve Passage Planning?

ADMIRALTY Digital Sailing Directions (ADSD) are a digital product from the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) that delivers the content of ADM...

How to Prevent Fires on Ships: A Maritime Safety Guide

How to Prevent Fires on Ships: A Maritime Safety Guide

Fire prevention on a commercial vessel is a regulatory obligation, not a recommendation. SOLAS Chapter II-2 dedicates three regulations (...