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.
OSV Compliance: The Subchapter L Operator's Requirements
Offshore supply vessels live under Subchapter L, with manning, stability, cargo, and credential requirements that reflect the offshore service they run. Here's the compliance picture for an OSV operator and where the recurring burden sits.
The Digital Master–Pilot Exchange Card: A Defensible Record of the Bridge Brief
When a loaded ship touches a dock, the P&I club asks what was agreed on the bridge. A sealed digital MPX answers it.
Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Compliance (46 CFR Part 28): What Owners Must Carry
Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the country, and 46 CFR Part 28 sets the safety equipment, exam, and training requirements that follow from that. Here's what a fishing vessel owner has to carry and keep current.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.