Insights & News
Updates from Mariners Log.
Insights on vessel maintenance, reliability and fleet management from the Mariners Log team, alongside product updates and company news.
The 500GT Dilemma: Why Large Yachts Are Designed to Stay “Small”
Why are so many large yachts deliberately designed to measure 499GT? Crossing the 500GT threshold can change a yacht’s regulatory requirements, crewing, construction cost and operation. Staying below it can offer real advantages, but it can also force compromises in machinery access, storage, safety systems and range. The real question is not whether a yacht can remain under 500GT, but whether it should.
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Mariners Log Update
From launching Mariners Log Version 3 to new R&D projects, international trials and industry events, it has been a busy few months. Here is a quick update on what we have been working on and what is coming next.
Why Does Machinery Failure Still Cause More Than Half of Shipping Incidents?
Allianz’s 2026 Safety and Shipping Review found that machinery damage or failure caused 53% of reported shipping incidents in 2025. Despite better technology and more advanced maintenance systems, breakdowns remain the industry’s most common operational problem. This raises an important question: are operators using the data their vessels already produce to identify developing problems before they become failures?
Reliability At The Most Remote Settlement On Earth
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, on Tristan da Cunha, is often described as the most remote inhabited settlement on Earth. With no airport and the only access by sea, it is a reminder that in remote places, vessel reliability is not just about efficiency, it is the lifeline.
Lloyd's Register Says Maintenance is Moving Data-Driven, and we agree.
Lloyd’s Register’s report on Data-Driven Condition-Based Maintenance makes one thing clear: vessel maintenance is moving away from static schedules and reactive repairs. The future is evidence-based maintenance built around real asset condition, operating data, analytics, and early warning signs.
Could The Baltimore Bridge Accident Have been prevented?
The NTSB report into the Dali and Francis Scott Key Bridge accident highlights how one small electrical fault became a catastrophic failure chain. It raises bigger questions around critical systems, inspection quality, and whether maritime maintenance is doing enough to surface risks before they become emergencies.
The Bayesian sunk — What This Really Means
The MAIB interim report into the Bayesian sinking highlights more than extreme weather. It raises bigger questions around vessel configuration, stability information, and hidden operational risk.
No, Mariners Log Is Not ChatGPT for Boats
Why predictive maintenance needs the right machine learning tools.
Kaitaki: The Preventable Catastrophe
A safety-critical rubber expansion joint was reportedly far beyond its recommended replacement interval. When it failed, the result was blackout, loss of propulsion, and a ferry with 864 people onboard drifting near a lee shore.