Privacy Policy

Overview

This website, marinersmatter.org, is operated on behalf of the Merchant Mariner Policy Action Group ("MMPAG," "we," "us," or "our"), an informal coalition of credentialed mariners, training providers, and vessel operators advocating for merchant mariner credentialing reform. This policy describes what information we collect when you visit the site, how that information is used, and your choices regarding it.

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. We do not collect names, email addresses, or other personal identifiers through this website. There are no forms, user accounts, or login features on this site.

Information We Collect Automatically

When you visit marinersmatter.org, certain information is collected automatically through analytics and session recording tools. This information may include:

• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and scroll depth
• Referring website or link that brought you to the site
• Browser type, operating system, device type, and screen resolution
• Approximate geographic location (city or region level, not precise location)
• Anonymized mouse movements, clicks, and scroll behavior (via session recording)
• IP address (collected by third-party analytics providers as described below)

This information is used solely to understand how visitors interact with the site and to improve its content and usability. It is never used to identify individual visitors by name or contact information.

Analytics and Session Recording Services

This site uses the following third-party services:

Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

We use Google Analytics to collect aggregated data about site traffic, page views, user demographics, and behavior. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect and store information. Google's use of this data is governed by Google's Privacy Policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

Microsoft Clarity

We use Microsoft Clarity to understand how visitors interact with the site through session recordings and heatmaps. Clarity captures anonymized user behavior such as mouse movements, clicks, and scrolling patterns. Clarity automatically masks sensitive content and does not collect passwords, payment information, or form inputs. Microsoft's use of this data is governed by Microsoft's Privacy Statement. Learn more about Clarity's privacy practices.

SearchAtlas

We use SearchAtlas for search engine optimization analytics. SearchAtlas may collect information about how search engines index and display the site. This data is used solely for improving the site's visibility in search results.

Cookies

This site uses cookies, which are small text files stored on your device by your web browser. Cookies are placed by the analytics services described above to distinguish unique visitors and track sessions. We do not use cookies for advertising or marketing purposes.

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the accuracy of analytics data but will not impact your ability to use this site. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies entirely, delete existing cookies, or alert you before a cookie is placed.

Third-Party Links

This site may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any external site you visit.

Data Retention

Analytics data collected through Google Analytics is retained for 14 months. Session recording data collected through Microsoft Clarity is retained for 30 days. We do not maintain any separate database of visitor information.

Children's Privacy

This site is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights regarding your personal data, including the right to access, correct, or delete data collected about you. Because we do not collect personally identifiable information through this site, we are generally unable to associate analytics data with specific individuals. If you have questions or concerns about your data, please contact us using the information below.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of the site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy or our data practices, please reach out through our contact form.