Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction & Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to HeyMariner, a comprehensive maritime intelligence platform operated by HeyMariner (“HeyMariner,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), located at Duncan Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304, United States. These Terms and Conditions (“Terms,” “Agreement”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you and HeyMariner governing your access to and use of the HeyMariner platform, website located at heymariner.com, mobile applications, APIs, data feeds, and all associated services (collectively, the “Platform” or “Services”).

By accessing, browsing, registering for, or using any portion of the HeyMariner Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms and all policies and guidelines incorporated herein by reference, including but not limited to our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Community Guidelines, Editorial Policy, and Data Usage Policy. These Terms apply to all visitors, registered users, subscribers, maritime professionals, shipping companies, ports, suppliers, and any other persons who access or use the Platform in any capacity.

If you are accessing or using the Platform on behalf of a company, shipping organization, maritime authority, port authority, classification society, insurance provider, shipbroker, shipyard, crewing agency, or any other legal entity, you represent and warrant that you have the full legal authority to bind that entity to these Terms, and references to “you” in these Terms shall refer to both you individually and to that entity. If you do not have such authority, or if you do not agree with any of these Terms, you must not access or use the Platform.

HeyMariner was founded and is operated by a team of experienced maritime professionals, including nine Master Mariners, five Chief Engineers, seventeen Officers, thirteen Engineers, and many dedicated volunteers, all committed to delivering accurate, reliable, and useful maritime intelligence. The Platform is designed to serve the global maritime community — from individual seafarers and students of navigation to large-scale shipping operators, port authorities, and maritime regulators. Our mission is to make maritime intelligence accessible, actionable, and trustworthy.

The Platform officially launched on July 1, 2026. These Terms were last updated on June 19, 2026, and supersede all prior versions of any terms of service, user agreements, or terms and conditions previously published by HeyMariner. We reserve the right to revise, amend, or replace these Terms at any time. When material changes are made, we will update the “Last Updated” date and, where practicable, notify registered users by email or by a prominent notice displayed within the Platform. Your continued access to or use of the Platform after the posting of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of those revised Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms or to any future revisions, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue your use of the Platform and, if applicable, to close your account. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, employment relationship, or agency relationship between you and HeyMariner.

2. Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms, the following definitions shall apply. Where the context requires, words in the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and words of any gender shall include all genders.

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Age and Legal Capacity

The Platform is intended for use by individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction if higher. By accessing or using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet this minimum age requirement. If you are under 18 years of age, you are not permitted to register for an Account or use any features of the Platform that require registration. Certain professional or enterprise features may be restricted to individuals with appropriate maritime qualifications, certifications, or professional standing.

3.2 Account Registration

While certain portions of the Platform may be accessible without registration, many features — including vessel watchlists, community forums, marketplace participation, maritime calculators, saved routes, and subscription content — require you to create an Account. To register for an Account, you must provide accurate, current, complete, and truthful information as requested in the registration form, including your full name, a valid and accessible email address, and such other details as may be required to verify your identity or professional qualifications. You must not use a false name, an email address belonging to another person, or any information that is misleading or fraudulent.

Upon successful registration, HeyMariner may send you a confirmation email to verify your email address. You must verify your email address within the timeframe specified in the confirmation email to activate all Account features. HeyMariner reserves the right to reject any registration application at our sole discretion, including without limitation where we have reason to believe the information provided is inaccurate or where we have previously terminated an Account associated with you.

3.3 Account Security and Responsibility

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your Account credentials, including your password. You agree to use a strong, unique password for your HeyMariner Account and not to share your login credentials with any third party. You are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your Account, whether or not authorized by you. If you discover or suspect any unauthorized access to your Account or any other security breach, you must notify HeyMariner immediately by emailing heymariner@gmail.com or calling +1 (267) 215-2840.

HeyMariner will not be liable for any loss, damage, or harm arising from your failure to maintain the security of your Account credentials. You agree to notify us promptly of any changes to the information you provided during registration that may affect the accuracy of your Account profile, including changes to your professional qualifications, employer, or maritime role.

3.4 Organizational Accounts

Shipping companies, port authorities, maritime training institutions, classification societies, and other maritime organizations may register for organizational accounts that permit multiple named users under a single billing relationship. The primary account holder for an organizational account accepts these Terms on behalf of the organization and all individual users authorized under that account. The primary account holder is responsible for ensuring that all authorized users comply with these Terms and for any activity conducted by authorized users on the organizational account.

4. Description of Services

HeyMariner offers a broad and growing suite of maritime intelligence tools and community resources designed to serve the needs of maritime professionals at every level. The specific features available to any given User depend on their subscription tier. The following describes our core service offerings:

4.1 Vessel Tracking and AIS Intelligence

The Platform provides real-time and historical vessel position tracking using terrestrial and satellite Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. Users may search for vessels by name, IMO number, MMSI, or call sign, and view current position, speed, heading, navigational status, and port call history. Vessel tracking data is sourced from third-party AIS data providers and is subject to the limitations described in Section 7 of these Terms.

4.2 Port Intelligence

HeyMariner provides comprehensive port intelligence covering thousands of ports, terminals, anchorages, and maritime facilities worldwide. Port information includes general port particulars, berth availability indicators, tide tables, draft restrictions, port state control records, agent contacts, pilotage requirements, port charges, traffic separation schemes, and vessel traffic service (VTS) information. Port data is compiled from official and authoritative sources but is provided for informational purposes only and must be verified through official channels before being relied upon for navigational or commercial decisions.

4.3 Maritime Regulations and IMO Resources

The Platform provides access to summaries, explanations, and references for key international maritime conventions and regulations, including SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), ISM Code, ISPS Code, and IMO resolutions. Our team of qualified Master Mariners and maritime professionals curate and review regulatory content to ensure accuracy. However, regulatory information on the Platform is provided for educational and reference purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Users must consult the official texts of international conventions and relevant flag state legislation for authoritative regulatory guidance.

4.4 Maritime Wiki and Knowledge Base

HeyMariner maintains an extensive maritime wiki and knowledge base covering maritime terminology, vessel types, navigation concepts, cargo handling procedures, safety protocols, environmental regulations, maritime history, and many other topics. The wiki is curated by our team of maritime experts and may be supplemented by User contributions subject to editorial review. All wiki content is intended for educational purposes.

4.5 Weather Routing and Meteorological Data

The Platform provides weather overlay data for voyage planning purposes, including wind forecasts, wave height models, ocean current data, swell predictions, and visibility forecasts from third-party meteorological providers. Weather routing information on HeyMariner is intended as an advisory tool to supplement, not replace, professional voyage planning, master's discretion, and consultation with professional meteorological routing services. See Section 7 for important disclaimers regarding weather data.

4.6 Maritime Community

HeyMariner hosts a professional maritime community platform where mariners, maritime students, maritime officers, engineers, shore-based personnel, maritime lawyers, surveyors, and maritime industry professionals can connect, share knowledge, participate in discussions, form groups, post articles, and collaborate. Community participation is governed by these Terms and our Community Guidelines.

4.7 Marketplace and Procurement

The HeyMariner Marketplace facilitates connections between maritime suppliers, ship chandlers, service providers, and maritime buyers. Marketplace participants may list products and services, request for quotations (RFQs), and communicate with potential trading counterparties. HeyMariner acts as a platform intermediary and is not a party to any transaction concluded through the Marketplace.

4.8 IMPA Catalog and Spare Parts

The Platform provides access to the International Marine Purchasing Association (IMPA) catalog, enabling users to search for marine spare parts, consumables, and marine store items by IMPA number, description, or category. IMPA catalog data is provided under license and is subject to IMPA's own terms regarding use and reproduction.

4.9 Maritime Calculators and Tools

HeyMariner provides a suite of maritime calculators and professional tools, including fuel consumption calculators, stability calculators, cargo capacity estimators, distance and time calculators, unit converters, load line zone finders, and other tools useful for maritime professionals. These calculators are provided as convenience tools to assist with routine calculations and are not a substitute for verified calculations by qualified maritime professionals using certified equipment and software.

4.10 Service Availability and Modifications

HeyMariner strives to maintain continuous availability of the Platform but does not guarantee uninterrupted access. Planned maintenance, system upgrades, or circumstances beyond our control may result in temporary unavailability. We reserve the right to modify, enhance, restrict, suspend, or discontinue any feature or aspect of the Platform at any time, with reasonable notice where practicable.

5. User Obligations and Prohibited Conduct

5.1 General Obligations

In using the Platform, you agree to comply with all applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations, including maritime law, data protection law, export control regulations, and sanctions regimes. You agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of any person or restrict or inhibit anyone else's use or enjoyment of the Platform.

5.2 Prohibited Conduct

The following activities are expressly prohibited on or through the Platform. This list is illustrative and non-exhaustive:

Violation of any of the above prohibitions may result in immediate suspension or permanent termination of your Account without notice or refund, civil liability to affected parties, and, where the conduct constitutes a criminal offence, referral to appropriate maritime, law enforcement, or regulatory authorities.

6. Intellectual Property Rights

6.1 HeyMariner Proprietary Content

All content, software, systems, designs, interfaces, compilations, databases, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, and other intellectual property forming part of the Platform (“HeyMariner IP”) are owned by or licensed to HeyMariner and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws, including copyright, trademark, database rights, and trade secret laws of the United States and applicable international conventions.

The HeyMariner name, anchor logo, and associated brand identifiers are trademarks of HeyMariner. You may not use HeyMariner trademarks, trade names, or branding in connection with any product, service, or purpose without our prior written consent, except where explicitly permitted by these Terms.

6.2 Limited License to Users

Subject to your compliance with these Terms and payment of any applicable subscription fees, HeyMariner grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Platform and to view and download Content solely for your personal, professional, or internal business purposes within the maritime industry. This license does not permit: (a) resale or commercial distribution of Platform content; (b) modification, adaptation, or creation of derivative works based on Platform content without authorization; (c) removal or alteration of copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices; or (d) any use that exceeds the scope of your subscription tier.

6.3 User-Generated Content License

By submitting, posting, or otherwise contributing User-Generated Content to the Platform — including but not limited to forum posts, community discussions, vessel reports, port condition observations, photographs, or marketplace listings — you grant HeyMariner a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, perform, and display such UGC in connection with the operation, promotion, and improvement of the Platform. You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to grant this license, and that your UGC does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights.

6.4 Maritime Data and Third-Party Rights

Certain Maritime Data available through the Platform is sourced from third-party providers under license, including AIS data aggregators, meteorological services, chart publishers, IMO publications, and port authority databases. Such data is subject to the intellectual property rights of those third parties and may not be reproduced or redistributed beyond the scope permitted by your HeyMariner subscription and the applicable third-party license terms. You acknowledge that HeyMariner does not own the underlying raw AIS transmission data and that your license to access such data through the Platform is conditional on the continuation of HeyMariner's arrangements with its third-party data providers.

7. Maritime Data Disclaimer

7.1 AIS Data Accuracy Limitations

AIS data presented on the Platform is derived from transmissions received by terrestrial AIS stations and satellite AIS receivers operated by third-party providers. AIS data is inherently subject to numerous limitations, including: coverage gaps in remote ocean areas where terrestrial AIS coverage is absent and satellite AIS polling intervals may result in position data that is hours old; signal interference and congestion in busy shipping lanes where numerous simultaneous AIS transmissions can result in incomplete reception; transponder malfunction where a vessel's AIS transponder may be switched off, malfunctioning, or transmitting incorrect data; deliberate AIS spoofing by third parties who transmit false position data using legitimate MMSI identifiers; satellite positioning errors where the GPS data feeding the AIS transponder itself contains errors; and data processing delays between AIS reception and display on the Platform. Vessel positions shown on the Platform may not accurately reflect a vessel's actual real-time location.

7.2 Chart Data Limitations

Any chart data, depth soundings, underwater hazard information, or navigational chart overlays displayed on the Platform are provided for visualization and contextual reference only. They are not official navigation charts, are not updated in real time to reflect the latest Notices to Mariners (NTMs), and must not be used for navigation. Official, corrected, and up-to-date electronic navigational charts (ENCs) from approved hydrographic offices must be used for all vessel navigation.

7.3 Regulatory Information Currency

Maritime regulations, international conventions, flag state requirements, port state control requirements, and other regulatory information on the Platform may not reflect the most recent amendments, circulars, or interpretations. Maritime law evolves continuously through IMO Assembly resolutions, Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) decisions, Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) circulars, and flag state legislation. Users must always verify regulatory requirements through official IMO publications, flag state administrations, classification societies, and qualified maritime legal counsel before relying on regulatory information for compliance decisions.

7.4 Weather Routing Disclaimer

Weather forecasts, routing recommendations, wave height predictions, wind speed data, and other meteorological information provided through the Platform are sourced from third-party meteorological providers and are subject to inherent forecast uncertainty. Weather forecasting accuracy degrades significantly beyond 5–7 days. The Platform's weather tools are intended as a supplementary planning reference only. For commercial vessel voyages, users should engage a qualified professional meteorological routing service. The master of any vessel remains solely responsible for all route planning and navigational decisions, including decisions regarding weather routing, regardless of any information accessed through the Platform.

8. Content Standards and Editorial Policy

HeyMariner is committed to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, independence, and professional quality across all editorial content published on the Platform. Our editorial team — comprising qualified Master Mariners, Chief Engineers, Officers, and maritime specialists — reviews and curates content to ensure it meets the professional standards expected by the global maritime community.

All editorial content on the Platform, including maritime articles, safety notices, regulatory summaries, and educational resources, is governed by our Editorial Policy, which is available in full at heymariner.com/legal/editorial-policy. The Editorial Policy describes our standards for factual accuracy, source verification, conflict of interest disclosure, corrections and updates, and the distinction between editorial and sponsored content.

User-Generated Content submitted to the Platform's community features is subject to moderation in accordance with our Community Guidelines, available at heymariner.com/legal/community-guidelines. HeyMariner reserves the right to remove, edit, or decline to publish any User-Generated Content that violates our content standards, community guidelines, or these Terms without prior notice to the contributing User.

Sponsored content, partner content, and advertising published on the Platform is governed by our Advertising Policy, available at heymariner.com/legal/advertising-policy. All sponsored or commercial content is clearly labeled as such and is maintained separately from editorial content. HeyMariner's editorial decisions are not influenced by advertisers or commercial partners.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

HeyMariner is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy rights. Our collection, use, storage, sharing, and protection of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, available at heymariner.com/privacy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Platform, you acknowledge and agree to the data processing practices described in our Privacy Policy.

We process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where it applies to the processing of personal data of individuals in the European Economic Area, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) where applicable to California residents, and other applicable United States federal and state privacy laws.

Our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies is governed by our Cookie Policy, available at heymariner.com/legal/cookie-policy. By continuing to use the Platform after being presented with our cookie consent notice, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

By submitting personal data through the Platform — including during account registration, newsletter sign-up, contact form submissions, or marketplace interactions — you confirm that you are authorized to provide that data and that you consent to its processing by HeyMariner in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

10. Payment Terms and Subscriptions

10.1 Subscription Plans

HeyMariner offers both free and paid subscription tiers. The features included in each tier, and the pricing applicable to paid tiers, are described on our subscription page at heymariner.com/subscription and are subject to change. By subscribing to a paid plan, you agree to pay the applicable subscription fees in advance for the billing period selected (monthly or annual). All prices are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated.

10.2 Billing and Payment Processing

Subscription fees are billed in advance at the start of each billing period. Payment is processed through a third-party payment processor. By providing payment information, you authorize HeyMariner and our payment processor to charge the applicable subscription fee to your designated payment method at the beginning of each billing period until you cancel your subscription. HeyMariner does not store complete payment card information on its own systems.

10.3 Automatic Renewal

Unless you cancel your subscription before the end of the current billing period, your subscription will automatically renew for a further period of the same duration at the then-current subscription rate. We will send you a renewal reminder before each renewal date for annual subscriptions. You are responsible for canceling your subscription through your Account settings if you do not wish to renew.

10.4 Refund Policy

All subscription fees are non-refundable except where required by applicable law or expressly stated in a separate written agreement with HeyMariner. If you cancel your subscription, you will continue to have access to paid features until the end of the current billing period, after which your account will revert to the free tier. HeyMariner does not provide partial-period refunds for mid-cycle cancellations.

10.5 Price Changes

HeyMariner reserves the right to change subscription prices at any time. For existing subscribers, price changes will take effect at the next renewal after at least thirty (30) days' written notice. Continued use of the Platform after a price change takes effect constitutes your acceptance of the new pricing.

11. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE HEYMARINER PLATFORM AND ALL CONTENT, MARITIME DATA, SERVICES, AND FEATURES ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS,” “AS AVAILABLE,” AND “WITH ALL FAULTS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEYMARINER, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, MASTER MARINERS, CHIEF ENGINEERS, OFFICERS, ENGINEERS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSORS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT;
• WARRANTIES THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR FREE FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS;
• WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENCY, OR RELIABILITY OF ANY MARITIME DATA, AIS POSITION DATA, WEATHER FORECASTS, PORT INFORMATION, REGULATORY CONTENT, OR OTHER CONTENT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PLATFORM;
• WARRANTIES THAT ANY VESSEL POSITIONS DISPLAYED ON THE PLATFORM ACCURATELY REFLECT THE ACTUAL REAL-TIME LOCATION OF ANY VESSEL;
• WARRANTIES THAT REGULATORY OR COMPLIANCE INFORMATION ON THE PLATFORM IS CURRENT, COMPLETE, OR APPLICABLE TO YOUR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

CRITICAL MARITIME SAFETY DISCLAIMER: THE HEYMARINER PLATFORM IS NOT, AND MUST NOT BE USED AS, A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER SEAMANSHIP, COMPETENT NAVIGATION, OFFICIAL NAUTICAL CHARTS, NOTICES TO MARINERS, PROFESSIONAL METEOROLOGICAL ROUTING SERVICES, CLASS-APPROVED STABILITY SOFTWARE, CERTIFIED COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS, OR ANY OTHER SAFETY-CRITICAL MARITIME SYSTEM OR SERVICE. DECISIONS REGARDING VESSEL NAVIGATION, ROUTE PLANNING, CARGO OPERATIONS, STABILITY MANAGEMENT, COLLISION AVOIDANCE, OR ANY OTHER SAFETY-CRITICAL MARITIME OPERATION MUST BE MADE BY QUALIFIED, CERTIFICATED MARITIME OFFICERS USING CERTIFIED EQUIPMENT AND OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. HEYMARINER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY VESSEL CASUALTY, LOSS OF LIFE, PERSONAL INJURY, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION INCIDENT, CARGO LOSS, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE PLATFORM.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or limitations on applicable statutory rights of a consumer, and nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude any warranty to the extent that it cannot lawfully be excluded in your jurisdiction.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL HEYMARINER, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, MASTER MARINERS, CHIEF ENGINEERS, MARITIME OFFICERS, ENGINEERS, SHAREHOLDERS, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, AGENTS, LICENSORS, OR SERVICE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF GOODWILL, LOSS OF DATA, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES, OR LOSS OF ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE PLATFORM, EVEN IF HEYMARINER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Without limiting the foregoing, HeyMariner shall not be liable for: (a) any loss or damage arising from your reliance on AIS position data, vessel tracking information, weather forecasts, port intelligence, regulatory summaries, or any other Maritime Data accessed through the Platform for navigational, commercial, operational, or compliance purposes; (b) any vessel casualty, grounding, collision, allision, sinking, stranding, or other maritime accident; (c) any cargo loss, delay, contamination, or damage; (d) any personal injury or loss of life; (e) any environmental pollution or spillage; (f) any commercial loss arising from reliance on ETA predictions, port congestion data, or voyage schedule information; (g) any regulatory penalty, fine, detention, or enforcement action; (h) any failure, interruption, inaccuracy, or error in AIS data, weather data, or port data feeds supplied by third-party providers; or (i) any unauthorized access to or alteration of your transmissions or data.

To the extent liability cannot be fully excluded by applicable law, HeyMariner's total aggregate liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform, regardless of the form of action, shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the total subscription fees actually paid by you to HeyMariner in the twelve (12) calendar months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim; or (b) one hundred United States Dollars (USD $100). Nothing in these Terms shall limit HeyMariner's liability for death or personal injury caused by HeyMariner's gross negligence, fraud, or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded by applicable law.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless HeyMariner and its officers, directors, employees, Master Mariners, Chief Engineers, maritime officers, engineers, contractors, agents, affiliates, successors, and assigns (collectively, the “HeyMariner Parties”) from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, proceedings, liabilities, damages, losses, penalties, fines, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal costs) arising out of or relating to:

• your access to or use of the Platform in violation of these Terms;
• your violation of any applicable law, regulation, or international maritime convention;
• any User-Generated Content you submit to the Platform, including any claim that such content infringes the intellectual property rights or other rights of any third party;
• your use of Maritime Data in any manner that violates these Terms or applicable law;
• any dispute between you and another User of the Platform or a third party arising from your use of the Platform;
• your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or contractual rights;
• any misrepresentation made by you in connection with your Account registration or use of the Platform; or
• your gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with your use of the Platform.

HeyMariner reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which case you will cooperate with HeyMariner in asserting any available defenses. You may not settle any claim subject to indemnification without HeyMariner's prior written consent.

14. Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Platform, or any breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, or validity of these Terms (including the determination of the scope or applicability of these Terms to arbitrate), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of laws principles that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) does not apply to these Terms. For maritime-specific disputes arising from or related to the maritime nature of the Platform's services, the parties acknowledge the relevance of applicable United States federal maritime law, the Jones Act, and relevant provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), MARPOL, and other international maritime conventions to the extent they bear on the subject matter of any dispute.

Subject to the dispute resolution provisions in Section 15, you agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, for the resolution of any disputes not subject to arbitration under Section 15. Nothing in these Terms shall limit HeyMariner's right to seek emergency or interim injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to protect its intellectual property rights or to prevent imminent harm to the Platform or its users.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal legal proceeding, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your concern informally. Most disputes can be resolved quickly through open communication. To initiate informal dispute resolution, please contact us at heymariner@gmail.com or by post at Duncan Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304, United States, describing the nature of your dispute and the resolution you are seeking. HeyMariner will respond within thirty (30) days. The parties agree to negotiate in good faith for a period of sixty (60) days before either party may pursue formal proceedings.

15.2 Binding Arbitration

Except for claims that qualify for small claims court and claims for injunctive or other equitable relief to protect intellectual property rights, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform that cannot be resolved through informal negotiation shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer or Commercial Arbitration Rules, as applicable, except as modified herein. The arbitration shall be conducted in English, seated in Hudson County, New Jersey, and conducted before a single arbitrator with expertise in technology, internet services, or maritime law. The arbitrator's award shall be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

15.3 Class Action Waiver

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO BRING OR PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION, PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTION, OR ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING AGAINST HEYMARINER. ALL CLAIMS MUST BE BROUGHT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS ONLY.

15.4 Time Limitation on Claims

Any cause of action, claim, or dispute you may have arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform must be commenced within one (1) year after the cause of action accrues; otherwise, such cause of action is permanently barred. This one-year limitation period applies regardless of any statutory limitation period that might otherwise be applicable.

16. Modifications to Terms

HeyMariner reserves the right to modify, amend, supplement, or replace these Terms at any time in our sole discretion. When we make changes to these Terms, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. For material changes — defined as changes that significantly affect your rights, obligations, or use of the Platform — we will provide at least fourteen (14) days' advance notice by: (a) sending an email to the address associated with your Account; (b) displaying a prominent notice within the Platform; or (c) both of the foregoing.

Your continued access to or use of the Platform after the effective date of any modification to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of and agreement to be bound by the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Platform and, if you are a paid subscriber, cancel your subscription before the modified Terms take effect. HeyMariner will not retroactively apply modified Terms to any claim or dispute that arose prior to the effective date of the modification.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of any updates. The current version of these Terms is always available at heymariner.com/terms-of-service. If you have any questions about any changes to these Terms, please contact us at heymariner@gmail.com before the effective date of the changes.

17. Termination

17.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your Account and your access to the Platform at any time by closing your account through your Account settings or by contacting us at heymariner@gmail.com. If you are a paid subscriber, termination of your Account will result in the loss of access to paid features at the end of the current billing period. No refunds will be issued for any unused portion of a subscription period, except as required by applicable law.

17.2 Termination by HeyMariner

HeyMariner reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or permanently terminate your Account and your access to the Platform, with or without notice and without liability to you, if we have reasonable grounds to believe that you have: (a) violated any provision of these Terms; (b) provided false, misleading, or fraudulent information during registration or in your Account profile; (c) engaged in conduct that is harmful to other Users, third parties, or HeyMariner; (d) used the Platform for any illegal purpose, including sanctions evasion, piracy facilitation, or IUU fishing assistance; (e) failed to pay any applicable subscription fees; or (f) failed to comply with any applicable law or regulation.

17.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination of your Account for any reason: (a) your license to access and use the Platform immediately ceases; (b) HeyMariner may delete your Account data in accordance with our data retention policy; (c) all provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall continue in full force and effect, including Sections 6 (Intellectual Property), 11 (Disclaimer of Warranties), 12 (Limitation of Liability), 13 (Indemnification), 14 (Governing Law), 15 (Dispute Resolution), and 17 (Termination).

Any UGC you have contributed to the Platform may remain accessible to other Users after your Account is terminated, subject to the terms of the license you granted HeyMariner under Section 6.3, unless you request deletion of your UGC in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

18. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, wish to exercise any of your rights under these Terms, have a complaint, or need to contact us for any other reason, please use the following contact information:

We aim to respond to all legal inquiries within five (5) business days. For urgent matters relating to maritime safety, please contact us by phone at +1 (267) 215-2840. For all social media communications, we can be reached at our official Facebook page (facebook.com/Heymariner), Instagram (@heymariner), and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/organisation/heymariner), though formal legal notices must be sent to the email or postal address above.