DeepDraft regulation analysis looks at how maritime rules, compliance systems, and legal responsibilities reach the ship. This section covers IMO instruments, SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, port state control, flag state responsibility, casualty accountability, and the practical exposure faced by ships, crews, companies, and Masters.
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The Master’s Role in OFAC Compliance
By Capt. Raghu Sharma An Analytical Look at How Sanctions Quietly Enter the Bridge To seafarers in general, OFAC does not exist. No rating will ever come into contact with…
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When Shipping Turns Grey: Life and Law Inside the Shadow Fleet
When a ship “goes grey,” it doesn’t disappear.It slips into a world where names change and paperwork turns to smoke. Yet the people aboard still wake to the same seas,…
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PFOS in Firefighting Foam: What the IMO 2026 Ban Means for Ships
The IMO 2026 Deadline Is Coming – Are Ships Ready? In January 2026, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will prohibit the use of firefighting foams containing Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) aboard…
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The Silence That Follows a Cadet’s Death at Sea
In the past five years, the shipping industry has seen a disturbing rise in deaths and disappearances among young seafarers, many recorded as suicides or “unexplained” at-sea cases. Insurers now…
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The MSC Michigan Chief Engineer Case: Beyond Blame, Toward Systemic Accountability
The Ghost of Dali: A Wake-Up Call The maritime fraternity has never fully exorcised the ghost of MV Dali. In March 2024, the containership, while transiting the Patapsco River near…
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Command vs “Conn”: Why the Master’s Authority Is Never Shared
In pilotage waters, a single word can blur the line between conduct, advice, and command and that blur can sink both safety and legal clarity. After publishing my recent article…
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Crude Oil Washing Records in ORB Part II: A MARPOL Compliance Trap
During a recent voyage, I noticed a recording practice in the Oil Record Book (Part II) that could quietly put ships at risk of MARPOL non-compliance. Many of us follow…
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EGCS, MARPOL Annex VI, and the Reality at Sea
A Rulebook That’s Simple on Paper Under MARPOL Annex VI, the sulphur oxide (SOx) limit for ships operating outside Emission Control Areas is 0.50% m/m. Many vessels have met this requirement…
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SIRE 2.0: Digital Ambition Crashing into Analog Ineptitude
Why digital tanker vetting still depends on current knowledge, clear communication, and sound operational judgement. Digital Vetting Still Needs Human Competence OCIMF launched SIRE 2.0 as a major step forward…