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.
Charleston Harbor Pilotage: Dispatch for a Deep-Draft Container Port
Charleston deepened its harbor to handle the largest containerships calling the US East Coast — which puts under-keel clearance and draft-driven timing at the center of dispatch. Here's the challenge of a deep-draft district and what helps.
Ballast Water Management Compliance for US Operators, Explained
Ballast water is regulated by two overlapping US authorities — the Coast Guard and the EPA — plus the international convention. For a US operator the question is which apply to your vessel and what records you must keep. Here's the plain-English version.
Pilotage Tariff Invoicing and Detention Billing: Stop Eating the Standby Time
Detention and standby are the most under-billed line on a pilotage invoice. Here's how to stop eating it and tie every charge back to the transit.
Pilot Fatigue and Rest-Hours: Keeping an Unfit Pilot Out of the Rotation
Fatigue is a leading cause of pilotage incidents. How to derive work hours from real transits, enforce rest, and auto-skip an unfit pilot.
Pilot Ladder Safety Under SOLAS V/23: Building a Deficiency Log Your Association Can Escalate
The most dangerous 90 seconds of the job. A tap-through boarding checklist, SOLAS V/23 rigging rules, and a fleet-wide deficiency log that changes operator behavior.
Rotation Equity: Settling the Fair-Share Dispute That Splits Pilots Associations
The deepest fight inside a pilots association isn't safety — it's whether turns and the lucrative jobs are shared fairly. Here's how to measure it.
The USCG Physical & Drug Test (CG-719K): What to Expect
The medical exam and drug test trip up more captain's license applications than the written test. Here's exactly what the CG-719K physical checks, what can disqualify you, and how to pass the drug screen.
USCG License Renewal: Step-by-Step (and the 5-Year Clock)
How to renew your USCG captain's license before it lapses — the 5-year clock, the renewal window, the recency requirement, and exactly what to submit. Don't let your credential expire.
USCG Engineering Exam Study Guide: What's Actually Tested
The engineering module on the USCG exam covers diesels, fuel and lube systems, pumps, and electrical basics. Here's what's tested, where people lose points, and how to study it efficiently.
TWIC Card: How to Get One for Your Captain's License
Your first TWIC is required before the Coast Guard will issue your captain's license. Here's how to enroll, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to keep it from delaying your application.
USCG Towing Officer Endorsement (TOAR): What to Know
The path to a Master of Towing or Mate (Pilot) of Towing endorsement runs through the TOAR — a practical demonstration of skills, not just a written test. Here's how the towing endorsement works.
How Much Sea Time Do You Need for Each USCG License?
OUPV, 100-Ton, 200-Ton, MMC — exactly how many days of sea service each USCG license requires, the 90-day recency rule that trips people up, and how to document it on Form CG-719S.