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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.
The USCG Oral Exam: What REC Examiners Actually Test
Passing the written test gets you to the oral exam — a different format with the same rules. Here is what REC examiners ask, why candidates fail, and how to prepare your answers before the appointment.
COLREGS: Crossing, Overtaking, or Head-On? A Decision Guide for the USCG Exam
Before you can answer what action is required, you have to correctly classify the encounter. This guide walks through Rules 13, 14, and 15 in order, shows you the exam traps, and gives you a decision process that works on paper and at the REC.
The 10 Most Commonly Missed USCG Rules of the Road Questions
Most Rules of the Road failures come from the same ten traps. Each one has a specific wrong answer that feels right until you understand why it is wrong. Know these before exam day.
COLREGS Lights and Shapes: The Complete Quiz and Study Guide
Lights and shapes are the most reliably tested topic in every USCG Rules of the Road module. Master the arc widths, the vessel types, and the identification method before exam day.
COLREGS Rules of the Road Practice Test: What to Know Before Exam Day
The Rules of the Road module fails more USCG exam candidates than any other. Here's how to study COLREGS correctly — and what the practice test questions actually test.