Acceptable Use Policy

Company: SeaReady Ltd

Registered Office: Office 1581, 92 Castle Street, Belfast, BT1 1HE

Version: v1.0

Effective Date: [Date of incorporation]

Last Updated: 2026-01-22

Table of Contents

1. Purpose2. Permitted Use3. Prohibited Use4. Maritime-Specific Prohibited Uses5. Resource Usage & Fair Use6. User Responsibilities7. Monitoring & Enforcement8. Third-Party Services9. Changes to This Policy10. Reporting & Contact11. Legal Consequences

1. Purpose

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") defines what you can and cannot do when using SeaReady services. It's part of our Terms of Service.

By using our services, you agree to this policy.

2. Permitted Use

You may use SeaReady services to:

Operate your business:

  • Manage safety management systems (SMS)
  • Track vessels and operational data
  • Store maritime compliance documents
  • Communicate with your team

Access from multiple locations:

  • Office, vessels, remote locations
  • Multiple devices (desktop, tablet, mobile)

Collaborate:

  • Share data with authorized users within your organization
  • Work with auditors/surveyors (read-only access)

Integrate:

  • Connect our services with your other business systems (via API, where available)

3. Prohibited Use

You must NOT use SeaReady services for:

3.1 Illegal Activities

  • Any illegal purpose or activity
  • Violating any UK or international laws
  • Infringing intellectual property rights
  • Fraud, theft, or identity theft

3.2 Security & System Abuse

Hacking or unauthorized access:

  • Attempting to breach security measures
  • Accessing other customers' data
  • Scanning or probing for vulnerabilities

System disruption:

  • Overloading our infrastructure (DoS/DDoS attacks)
  • Excessive API calls beyond reasonable use
  • Introducing viruses, malware, or malicious code

Credential sharing:

  • Sharing login credentials with unauthorized persons
  • Creating accounts with false information

3.3 Data Misuse

Illegal or harmful content:

  • Uploading illegal content (child exploitation material, terrorist content, etc.)
  • Defamatory, obscene, or offensive material
  • Personal data you don't have the right to process

Spam or harassment:

  • Sending unsolicited communications via our systems
  • Harassing other users or our staff

3.4 Commercial Abuse

Reselling or sublicensing:

  • Reselling our services without authorization
  • Operating a service bureau using our platform (unless agreed in writing)

Reverse engineering:

  • Attempting to copy, decompile, or reverse-engineer our software
  • Extracting source code

Competitive intelligence:

  • Using our services to build a competing product
  • Benchmarking for competitive purposes (without permission)

3.5 Misrepresentation

Impersonation:

  • Pretending to be SeaReady staff
  • Impersonating another user or organization

False information:

  • Providing fraudulent data during registration
  • Falsifying compliance records (this could endanger lives!)

4. Maritime-Specific Prohibited Uses

Given the safety-critical nature of maritime operations:

DO NOT:

  • Falsify SMS records - This could lead to accidents, regulatory violations, and legal consequences
  • Bypass safety procedures documented in your SMS
  • Share MCA inspection documents with competitors (your data, but consider confidentiality)
  • Use our consultancy advice without implementation - Advice is only as good as its execution

IMPORTANT:

  • SeaReady tools assist with compliance, but YOU remain responsible for safety and regulatory adherence
  • Do not rely solely on software - use professional judgment
  • When in doubt, consult MCA or your surveyor

5. Resource Usage & Fair Use

5.1 Fair Use

Our subscriptions assume "reasonable commercial use". This means:

Acceptable:

  • Daily use by your team
  • Storing vessel records, procedures, documents
  • Normal API usage for integrations

Excessive (we'll contact you):

  • Running automated scripts that hammer our servers
  • Storing huge files unrelated to maritime operations (e.g., using us as general file storage)
  • Creating thousands of unnecessary records

If your use is excessive: We'll discuss options (upgrade to higher tier, optimize usage, etc.). We won't cut you off without warning.

5.2 Storage Limits

  • Standard plans include [X GB] per vessel (to be defined based on pricing tier)
  • Overage: £[X] per additional GB per month
  • We'll warn you before charges apply

5.3 API Rate Limits

  • Standard: [X] requests per minute (to be defined based on technical implementation)
  • Enterprise: Higher limits available
  • Exceeded limits = temporary throttling (not account suspension)

6. User Responsibilities

6.1 Account Security

You must:

DO:

  • ✓ Use strong, unique passwords
  • ✓ Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
  • ✓ Notify us immediately of suspected unauthorized access
  • ✓ Log out from shared devices

DON'T:

  • ✗ Share credentials
  • ✗ Leave accounts logged in on public computers

6.2 Data Accuracy

You are responsible for:

  • Accuracy of data you input
  • Ensuring you have the right to process personal data (crew records, etc.)
  • Compliance with GDPR for data you control

We are not responsible for errors in YOUR data.

6.3 User Management

If you're an admin:

DO:

  • ✓ Grant access only to authorized users
  • ✓ Remove access for departed employees promptly
  • ✓ Review user permissions regularly

DON'T:

  • ✗ Allow unauthorized users (e.g., competitors, casual friends)

7. Monitoring & Enforcement

7.1 We May Monitor

To ensure compliance and security, we may:

  • Monitor system usage (automated)
  • Review logs for suspicious activity
  • Investigate reports of abuse
  • Scan uploaded files for malware

We DO NOT:

  • Read your data for marketing purposes
  • Share your data with third parties (except as per Privacy Policy)
  • Monitor content unless we have reason to suspect abuse

7.2 Reporting Abuse

If you suspect another user is violating this AUP:

  • Email: abuse@seaready.co.uk
  • Provide: Details of the violation, evidence if available
  • We'll investigate confidentially

7.3 Our Response to Violations

If you violate this AUP, we may:

First offense (minor):

  • Warning via email
  • Request to cease the activity
  • Opportunity to remedy (usually 14 days)

Serious or repeated violations:

  • Temporary account suspension
  • Permanent account termination
  • Report to authorities (if illegal activity)
  • Pursue legal action (if damages occurred)

Immediate suspension (no warning) if:

  • Illegal activity (hacking, fraud, illegal content)
  • Poses risk to other customers or our systems
  • Required by law

7.4 No Refunds for Violations

If your account is terminated for AUP violations:

  • No refund for prepaid subscriptions
  • Outstanding fees remain due
  • You have 7 days to export your data (vs. 30 days for regular cancellation)

8. Third-Party Services

If you integrate SeaReady with third-party services (e.g., your ERP, other maritime software):

  • You're responsible for compliance with their terms of service
  • We're not liable for issues with third-party services
  • Ensure data sharing is secure and authorized

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this AUP from time to time:

  • Material changes notified 30 days in advance
  • Posted on our website with "Last Updated" date
  • Continued use = acceptance

If you don't agree with changes: Cancel your subscription before effective date (no penalty)

10. Reporting & Contact

Summary (Plain Language)

DO:

  • ✓ Use our services for legitimate maritime business
  • ✓ Keep your account secure
  • ✓ Be honest and accurate with your data
  • ✓ Treat our systems and other users with respect

DON'T:

  • ✗ Do anything illegal
  • ✗ Try to hack or abuse our systems
  • ✗ Falsify safety records (this could kill people)
  • ✗ Spam, harass, or misuse the platform

If you're unsure whether something is allowed, ask us first: support@seaready.co.uk

Common sense applies: If it feels wrong, it probably is.

By using SeaReady services, you agree to this Acceptable Use Policy.

Violations may result in account suspension or termination.

Change Log

VersionDateChangesApproved By
v1.0[Incorporation date]Initial policyJ. Fulton, Director

This policy is part of our Terms of Service and is enforceable as a contract term.

Latest version: https://seaready.co.uk/acceptable-use