From the bridge
RSSPractical maritime compliance.
Plain-English writing for commercial operators — USCG rules, Sub M, STCW, cyber, and the free tools we built along the way. No regulatory fog. No SEO filler.
Helm CONNECT Is Built for 200-Vessel Fleets. What Do Small Operators Use Instead?
Helm CONNECT's per-vessel pricing compounds fast. Here's an honest breakdown of what small US-flagged operators actually pay, what they miss, and what to look for in a USCG compliance platform built for 2–15 vessels.
We Left a Demo Backdoor Open in Production for 30 Days. Here's the Seven-Layer Fix.
On 2026-04-16 we shipped a demo login to production with a hard-coded test/test credential. We caught it on 2026-05-16. Anyone who guessed the URL had full admin access for thirty days. This is the timeline, the root cause, and the seven-layer fix — written for the engineers who'll inherit this codebase, not the lawyers.
Bunker Fuel for Operators: ULSD vs MGO, the BDN Trap, and Why Hawaii Pays 30% More
$5/gal × 1,200 gal = $6,000 a voyage. Multiply across the fleet, and most operators are bleeding more on bunker timing than on payroll. A practical guide to what your engineer should be checking before he signs the BDN.
STCW 2010 Manila Amendments in Plain English: 7 Endorsements + What Changed
STCW 2010 cut paper certificates from 13 to 7 but raised the bar. Here's what every captain working international voyages needs to know.
USCG Inspection Day: What to Say (and Not Say) in the First 10 Minutes
The first 10 minutes of a USCG boarding set the tone for the whole inspection. Four mistakes operators make — and the simple plan that beats them.
How to Prep for a Subchapter T COI Inspection: A 12-Point Checklist From an Operator
Sub T COI inspection coming up? Most fail on credentials or drill log — not equipment. Here's the 12-point pre-inspection checklist I use 30 days out.
Charter Party Agreements: 5 Clauses Every Operator Needs (and the Lawsuit That Taught Me Each One)
Most charter operators sign one-page bareboat agreements they bought online. Here are the five clauses you actually need — with the lawsuits that explain why.
How to Fill Out CG-2692 in 10 Minutes: A Line-by-Line Walkthrough for Operators
CG-2692 is due within 5 days of a marine casualty per 46 CFR §4.05-1. Here's the line-by-line walkthrough with a real Honolulu allision example.
The USCG 2025 Cyber Rule Explained: What Every Operator Needs to Know Before July 16
46 CFR 101 Subpart F hits July 16, 2025. Here's what your vessel, facility, and crew need to be compliant — explained in plain English.
TWIC Card Renewal in 2026: What Every Operator Needs to Know
TWIC renewals trip up more crews than any other credential. Here's the 5-year cycle, the OneVisit option, and the gotchas that cost operators real money.
Sub M's 12-Hour Rule vs STCW 77/10: The Rest-Hour Confusion That Puts Tugboats at Risk
Most compliance software applies STCW rest rules to every vessel. For Subchapter M towing vessels, that's wrong — and legally dangerous. Here's the difference every operator needs to know.
Why Should Maritime Operators Screen Crew Against the OFAC SDN List? $356,579 Per Violation Is Why
OFAC sanctions are strict liability — you don't have to know to be liable. Enforcement is up 40% since 2022. Here's how to screen crew and vessels.