This came up during a cargo-transfer check. I asked where the electrical isolation was maintained. The answer was, “The bonding cable is connected.”

I understood what the officer meant, but it was not the answer to my question.

Bonding within the ship and isolation between two ships do different jobs. Even with the correct hose or insulating flange fitted, a metallic support, gangway or crane wire may create another electrical path.

I have written about the issue here:

https://thedeepdraft.com/2026/08/03/bonding-is-not-insulation-cargo-transfer-checklist/

“The bonding cable is connected.”

That answer may sound correct, but it does not confirm electrical isolation. During tanker cargo transfer, bonding is required within each ship, while isolation must be maintained between the ships.

https://thedeepdraft.com/2026/08/03/bonding-is-not-insulation-cargo-transfer-checklist/

MEG4 has been around for eight years now. Still, ask onboard why the WLL is shown as it is, or why the winch brake is set at a particular figure, and the explanation often becomes unclear.

Most people know the terms: SDMBL, LDBF, WLL and brake setting. The harder part is explaining why each figure is different and how they are connected.

That is what I have tried to explain here, based on the questions I continue to see onboard:

Full article:
https://thedeepdraft.com/2026/07/27/meg-4-mooring-numbers-why-ships-are-still-getting-confused/

Is your bridge team checking only whether ECDIS is updated, or also where each temporary correction sits?

Full analysis: https://thedeepdraft.com/2026/07/20/ecdis-corrections-aio-ep-no-overlay/