Commerical Traffic

Boating Among Giants

September 9, 2022

The rules of the road apply to all vessels large and small, but handling your boat around large commercial vessels requires more attentiveness than just following the rules.

A white Nordhavn 43 expedition yacht anchored in calm water near a lush green island with a dramatic, vibrant sky filled with glowing clouds overhead.

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

The crew of Celt, a Nordhavn 43, explore Australia and Indonesia on their multiyear circumnavigation.

Jeanneau NC 895 Series 2

All the right things, in all the right places.

The July/August 2026 magazine cover of Passagemaker featuring a bright orange expedition yacht near a glacier in Greenland, alongside a photo of a man in a red patterned shirt and sunglasses, set against a backdrop of arctic mountains and icebergs.

Emotional Rescue

Bearings from the Editor’s Desk

A classic white flybridge trawler yacht anchored in a calm body of water with a dark-furred dog peeking over the bow railing, set against a background of colorful autumn trees.

The Dog Who Wouldn’t

Devising a safe, easy way to get our dog on shore from an anchorage required some innovation.

A flat vector illustration of a medical doctor in a white lab coat and stethoscope treating a seated patient on the deck of a boat marked with a medical cross, floating on dark blue water under a pale yellow sky.

Keeping Yourself Shipshape

Before you go to sea, know how to access telehealth services, acquire medication refills and get medical care.

A detailed view inside a boat's lazarette showing the hydraulic steering assembly, rudder post, inverter, and overhead marine plumbing.

When the Boat Won’t Listen

Planning for loss of steering and engine control requires familiarity, not new equipment.

Selene Yachts 52 Ocean Explorer

A set layout is paired with an impressive list of standard equipment on a proven hull design.

A close-up of a boat's helm at night, showing glowing green and blue electronic navigation screens and radar displays, with blurry city lights visible through the window in the background.

Pro Boat Handling: Timing the Tide

When you can’t go any faster or slower, there are other options to help you arrive safely.

A wide, eye-level shot of a small, white wooden fishing boat named "DAMIEN I NICE" cruising through a calm harbor, leaving a gentle wake in the foreground. A single fisherman sits at the stern near the outboard tiller. In the background, a bustling marina is packed with dozens of docked sailboats and white vendor tents along the waterfront, bordered by a dense hillside of European-style apartment buildings under a clear blue sky.

Dash of Salt: Now We’re Talking

Let’s bring back these nautical words and terms. They’re better than the way we communicate today.

A side three-quarter view of a large, rugged expedition trawler named "PAUL JOHANSEN" cruising through calm open water. The vessel features a dark blue hull creating a white wake at the bow, paired with a cream-colored superstructure and a high pilothouse. A tall central mast holds multiple radar domes and communication antennas, while the upper deck carries a white tender and a bright yellow kayak. An American flag flies from the stern under a grey, overcast sky.

Straight Life

Once a rescue craft, this Norway-built steel trawler is the ticket to ride for a venturesome crew.

Commerical Traffic

Most Recent