The Maritime Education Podcast

While both Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) both meet the 0.1% sulphur limit for Emission Control Areas (ECAs), they are fundamentally different: Marine Gas Oil (MGO) is a pure, "clear and bright" distillate that behaves like high-grade diesel and is generally the most reliable and expensive option, requiring no heating but posing risks of low-viscosity leakage or "dry" injector wear. In contrast, Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) is typically a "hybrid" blend containing residual oil components, making it cheaper and more lubricious but technically complex, as it requires onboard heating to reach injection viscosity and carries a high risk of chemical instability or "sludging" if mixed with other fuels.Barry discusses a recent act of pilotage that he did where the choice between the two types of fuel may have made the main engine fluctuate and the Master forced to declare that he may have a problem. His hands-on current practice as a pilot allows him to give a unique perspective into the fuelling decisions being made in Northern Europe.Come and Visit our Website https://www.captainbarrysadler.com/At Captain Barry Sadler Maritime Training & Consultancy we deliver industry-leading online courses, oral exam preparation, and professional resources for deck officers, cadets, and maritime professionals. Fully aligned with UK MCA standards, our training helps you build knowledge, confidence, and a successful career at sea. Check Out Our MCA Questions Apps https://captainbarrysadler-colregs-quiz.base44.app Follow us Linkedin Instagram X Facebook

On December 6th 2025, the Baltic Klipper lost 16 containers overboard in the Solent near Nab Tower after experiencing severe rolling in heavy weather. HM Coastguard was alerted and issued navigational warnings as the drifting containers posed a significant hazard to one of the UK’s busiest waterways. Aerial searches located several containers, and over the following days eleven washed ashore along the West Sussex coastline, including Selsey and Pagham. Although most boxes contained fruit and were not hazardous, authorities warned the public to avoid the wreck material. The incident caused operational disruption to local shipping, including delays to passenger vessels, while recovery and investigation efforts continued.Barry discusses the incident, some of the problems caused and how liability can be apportioned under internationally agreed carriage of cargo rules.Come and Visit our Website https://www.captainbarrysadler.com/At Captain Barry Sadler Maritime Training & Consultancy we deliver industry-leading online courses, oral exam preparation, and professional resources for deck officers, cadets, and maritime professionals. Fully aligned with UK MCA standards, our training helps you build knowledge, confidence, and a successful career at sea. Check Out Our MCA Questions Apps https://captainbarrysadler-colregs-quiz.base44.app Follow us Linkedin Instagram X Facebook

A narrow channel has no formal dimensional definition in COLREGs or IMO conventions; instead, courts, pilots, VTS authorities and the MCA determine it by practical navigational constraint. A waterway is considered a narrow channel when vessels must follow the dredged or charted track for safe navigation, with limited room for meeting, overtaking or deviation. Case Law reaffirms that narrowness is a question of fact, based on depth, width, hydrodynamics and vessel operational constraints. Rule 9 therefore applies whenever the waterway’s characteristics confine navigation.Barry discusses the facts surrounding these common navigational features and why we need to be cautious when using them.The link to our new quiz app mentioned in the podcast is below.https://captainbarrysadler-colregs-quiz.base44.appCome and Visit our Website https://www.captainbarrysadler.com/At Captain Barry Sadler Maritime Training & Consultancy we deliver industry-leading online courses, oral exam preparation, and professional resources for deck officers, cadets, and maritime professionals. Fully aligned with UK MCA standards, our training helps you build knowledge, confidence, and a successful career at sea. Check Out Our MCA Questions Apps https://captainbarrysadler-colregs-quiz.base44.app Follow us Linkedin Instagram X Facebook

Tugs play a critical role in maintaining control of large vessels during bad weather, when wind, swell, and tidal forces quickly overwhelm a ship’s own manoeuvring ability. High-sided vessels such as container ships, RoRos and cruise ships present huge windage areas, causing the bow or stern to fall off rapidly in crosswinds. At low speeds, rudders and bow thrusters lose effectiveness, leaving pilots with limited means to counter drift, yaw or surge. In these conditions, tugs provide the controlled, directional force required to keep the vessel on track, stabilise heading, prevent unwanted movement and maintain safe clearance from berths, dolphins and other structures.Beyond simple pushing or pulling, modern ASD, tractor and rotor tugs are essential safety assets in exposed approaches, river entrances and terminals where strong weather threatens to overpower the ship. They deliver high bollard pull, indirect escort forces and rapid corrective thrust that prevent groundings, allisions and loss of control. In heavy weather, tugs are not just helpful but indispensable—acting as the primary control mechanism that ensures ships can berth, unberth, turn and transit safely despite adverse conditions. Barry discusses all these aspects.Come and Visit our Website https://www.captainbarrysadler.com/At Captain Barry Sadler Maritime Training & Consultancy we deliver industry-leading online courses, oral exam preparation, and professional resources for deck officers, cadets, and maritime professionals. Fully aligned with UK MCA standards, our training helps you build knowledge, confidence, and a successful career at sea. Check Out Our MCA Questions Apps https://captainbarrysadler-colregs-quiz.base44.app Follow us Linkedin Instagram X Facebook

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s lifelong relationship with the sea began early. Educated at Berkhamsted School, he joined the Merchant Navy at the age of 17, serving as a deck officer with the British India Steam Navigation Company. His early years at sea gave him both the technical skills and seamanship that would later define his legendary status. In 1968, Knox-Johnston entered the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race — the first ever non-stop, single-handed, round-the-world yacht race. Sailing his 32-foot ketch Suhaili, built by hand in India, he faced enormous isolation, equipment failures, and brutal weather. After 312 days alone at sea, he returned to Falmouth on 22 April 1969, becoming the first person in history to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. Of the nine competitors who set out, only Knox-Johnston finished. He donated his £5,000 prize money to the family of fellow competitor Donald Crowhurst, who had perished during the race.This episode marks my 40th anniversary of being at sea, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate it then to talk with the man whose feat inspired me to not only take up sailing but eventually to go to sea myself. Enjoy the interview.Come and Visit our Website https://www.captainbarrysadler.com/At Captain Barry Sadler Maritime Training & Consultancy we deliver industry-leading online courses, oral exam preparation, and professional resources for deck officers, cadets, and maritime professionals. Fully aligned with UK MCA standards, our training helps you build knowledge, confidence, and a successful career at sea. Check Out Our MCA Questions Apps https://captainbarrysadler-colregs-quiz.base44.app Follow us Linkedin Instagram X Facebook