Compliance
Ballast Water D-2: Compliance, Records & the Failures That Catch Ships Out
D-1 vs D-2, what the discharge limits actually say, commissioning testing, the Record Book entries inspectors check, contingency when the BWMS fails — and why the US regime is entirely separate.
Maintenance
Dry Dock Planning: Specification, Survey Windows & Cost Control
Survey windows and UWILD, a 12-month planning timeline, building a specification that controls cost, the growth-work problem that kills budgets, the critical path in dock, and coating as a fuel decision.
Safety & Vetting
PSC Detention: Top Deficiencies and How to Avoid Them
688 detentions and a 4.18% detention rate in the Paris MoU's 2025 report. The categories that dominate, why ISM findings detain ships, how Ship Risk Profile targeting works, and a pre-arrival self-check.
Compliance
MLC & STCW Rest Hours: Calculation Rules and Worked Examples
Why the rolling 24-hour window catches everyone out — with a worked example where two "compliant" calendar days hide a four-hour violation. Plus MLC vs STCW, compensatory rest and records that survive PSC.
Compliance
Oil Record Book Entries: Codes, Examples & the Mistakes That Cause Detentions
Codes A–I explained with worked example entries, the ten errors behind most PSC deficiencies, and — the part nobody covers — exactly which records an inspector cross-checks your ORB against.
Fleet Technology
Electronic Record Books for MARPOL: Approval, Flag Acceptance & What to Check
What MEPC.312(74) permits, which books can go digital, the flag Declaration people forget, the technical bar a system must meet, and 10 questions to ask any vendor before fleet rollout.
Safety & Vetting
SIRE 2.0 Explained: The Complete Tanker Vetting Preparation Guide
How the PIQ and algorithm build your CVIQ, the four question types, hardware/process/human-factors grading, the nine Performance Influencing Factors, SOC/NOC observation coding — plus a practical 90-day readiness programme.
Fleet Technology
Maritime Cyber Security & IMO MSC.428(98): A Practical 2026 Guide
What the IMO actually requires, the new IACS UR E26/E27 class rules from July 2024, the five functions of cyber risk management, common IT/OT threats, and how to build a ship cyber programme.
Compliance
EU ETS & FuelEU Maritime 2026: The Complete Compliance Guide for Shipowners
EU ETS hit 100% phase-in and FuelEU Maritime closed its first compliance cycle in 2026. Full breakdown of costs, penalties, banking/borrowing/pooling, UK ETS, and how to build an audit-ready compliance workflow.
IMO CII Rating Explained: How to Calculate, Improve & Stay Compliant in 2026
The Carbon Intensity Indicator now determines whether your vessels stay commercially attractive. Full breakdown of the AER formula, 2026 reduction factors, A–E rating bands, and the seven proven strategies operators use to lift D and E rated ships.
Planned Maintenance System (PMS) for Ships: The Complete 2026 Guide
ISM-compliant planned maintenance is the backbone of safe, profitable fleet operations. What a modern PMS must include, how condition-based and predictive maintenance cut costs by up to 30%, and a practical checklist for choosing PMS software.