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.
USCG Navigation General Study Guide: Master Every Topic
Navigation General is the broadest module on any USCG license exam. This study guide covers compass correction, current sailing, tides, celestial basics, and electronic nav — in the right order.
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.
Master 200-Ton Exam Prep: What's Actually Tested
The Master 200 GRT exam is a serious credential with real celestial navigation, advanced stability, and deep Rules of the Road. Here's how to prepare correctly.
USCG 100-Ton Captain License Exam: What to Expect
A practical breakdown of the USCG Master 100 GRT exam — module structure, question counts, passing score, and the prep sequence that actually works.
USCG 6-Pack License Exam: The Complete OUPV Study Guide
Exactly what's on the USCG OUPV (6-pack) exam, how many questions, the passing score, and the fastest path to passing — from someone who's been through it.
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.