Public FAQs

FERN RuleFinder is an independent maritime regulatory research and reference platform. It organizes publication content, source references, applicability information, and related provisions within a structured search workspace.

FERN RuleFinder is designed for masters, officers, shipowners, operators, safety and technical managers, surveyors, consultants, auditors, trainers, and other maritime professionals who require structured regulatory research and navigation.

Public visitors can review information about FERN RuleFinder, access plans, module availability, Public FAQs, support options, and legal information. Regulatory search requires a signed-in Free account with Preview Access, while professional workspace access depends on active module access.

No. FERN RuleFinder is an independent regulatory research and reference platform. It does not issue official publications or official interpretations. Users should verify requirements against the applicable authoritative source publications where necessary.

No. FERN RuleFinder supports structured regulatory retrieval, contextual access, source review, and professional workflow support. It does not provide continuous book dumps or unrestricted publication downloads.

Coverage depends on the publications imported and made available in the Subscription Modules catalogue. The catalogue may include conventions, codes, manuals, handbooks, guides, and related maritime regulatory material.

A module is an individual maritime publication or publication group made available through the FERN RuleFinder Subscription Modules catalogue.

Where the source material allows it, regulatory content is organized by publication, convention, chapter, regulation, subject, status, entry into force, applicability, and source relationship.

FERN RuleFinder is maintained through ongoing review of recognized maritime source publications, amendments, entry-into-force information, and related regulatory updates. References are retained for verification, and personal opinion is not presented as regulatory authority. Users remain responsible for professional judgement and verification against authoritative source publications where required.

Public Visitor access allows users to review FERN RuleFinder information, access plans, module availability, Public FAQs, support options, and legal information without entering a regulatory search workspace.

Preview Access is the signed-in Free account level. It provides limited search workflows and an introduction to the structured regulatory workspace before paid module access is activated.

Professional Module Access activates the workspace for subscribed maritime publication modules. Available functionality and content depend on the active module, account status, and applicable subscription terms.

The Free Plan provides a real FERN RuleFinder workspace using the same core search intelligence available in paid workspaces. It includes a limited daily search allowance, a validated Best Answer, up to five related-result previews, access to the confirmed primary or controlling rule, one saved confirmed primary result, Public FAQs, account access, and support requests.

A Free account currently includes 10 successful searches in a rolling 24-hour period. The allowance is shared across desktop and mobile. Failed or blocked search requests do not consume the allowance.

Yes. The same signed-in Free account can be used in the desktop and mobile FERN RuleFinder workspaces. The daily search allowance is shared, and saved primary results and recent-search information follow the active account rules across both environments.

A successful Free search provides a validated Best Answer and up to five related-result previews. The user can also open the confirmed primary or controlling rule identified by the search.

A Free account can save one confirmed primary result. That saved result can be replaced or removed. Recent searches may also remain available for replay according to the active Free-account rules.

A Free account can be upgraded by activating an Individual Module, a Professional Bundle, or an Enterprise / Institutional arrangement. The user continues within the appropriate professional workspace after the required access becomes active.

Individual Module access is intended for users who need one specific maritime publication module. The Professional Bundle combines four core maritime publication modules in one professional access package.

Enterprise / Institutional access is intended for organizations, companies, academies, and institutional teams requiring managed users, organization-level access oversight, or assigned and customized module packages.

Use the Subscription Modules page to review available and upcoming maritime publications, publication type, catalogue status, pricing labels where available, and the applicable module action.

Yes. FERN RuleFinder uses module-based access, so users may begin with one available Individual Module where subscriptions are enabled.

Yes. Additional modules may be activated later as the user's work requirements change and as further publications become available in the catalogue.

Cancellation options depend on the active subscription and payment method. Where cancellation is available, access normally continues until the end of the current paid billing period unless the applicable terms or law require otherwise.

Account, authentication, subscription, workspace, and support information is used to operate the service, provide secure account access, manage active subscriptions, communicate service information, and meet applicable legal obligations. Further details are provided in the Privacy Policy.

Use the Sign up free action to create a Free account with Preview Access. The account remains subject to Free-account limits until professional module access is activated.

Use the password-recovery option available through the FERN RuleFinder Log in page and follow the account recovery instructions.

Use the Contact Support page for account access, module subscription, payment, technical-support, or feedback requests. Include the relevant account email address, affected module or page, and a clear description of the issue.

FERN RuleFinder provides structured references, contextual excerpts, search results, applicability information, and workflow support developed from recognized maritime source material where available. It does not issue official interpretations and does not replace authoritative source publications or professional legal advice. Users should consult the applicable source publications wherever authoritative text is required.