1. About this policy
This Privacy Policy explains how YachtByte collects and uses personal information when you use this website, subscribe for access, sign in with Google, request a magic login link, manage an email preference, or send a contact message.
YachtByte is an independent and unofficial maritime technology information website. It is not a registered company, recruiter, yacht-management company, classification society, maritime authority, or representative of any vessel, manufacturer, or service provider.
For privacy questions, contact info@yachtbyte.com.
2. Data controller
YachtByte is the public-facing name used for this independent information site and determines why and how personal information collected through the site is used. Privacy communications are handled through info@yachtbyte.com. The operator works internationally and does not maintain or publish a fixed business address.
3. Personal data we collect
Depending on how you use the site, YachtByte collects:
- your name and email address when you subscribe for content access;
- when you choose Google sign-in, your Google display name, verified email address, Google account identifier, and the fact that Google is your linked sign-in provider;
- your optional News Feed email choice, the date and source of that choice, and the version of the consent wording shown to you;
- subscriber status, access status, account creation and update times, and last-login time;
- contact messages submitted while signed in;
- magic-link request and security information, including request and expiry times, IP address, browser user agent, and whether the link was used;
- essential session and form-security cookie information; and
- technical logs produced by the website and hosting provider, such as IP address, requested URL, response status, and timestamp.
YachtByte does not ask subscribers for payment details, job-application information, passport information, health information, or other special-category personal data.
4. Purposes and lawful bases
- Subscriber access and requested service emails: to create and administer access, authenticate you with Google when you choose that option, send confirmation or magic-login links, and send an account-retention warning. The lawful basis is performance of the subscriber-access agreement requested when you sign up.
- Optional News Feed emails: sent only when you make the separate optional choice to receive them. The lawful basis is consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
- Contact messages: to read, route, and respond to your enquiry. The lawful basis is YachtByte's legitimate interest in communicating with readers and maintaining a limited business record.
- Security and technical administration: to protect accounts, investigate misuse, maintain the site, and diagnose faults. The lawful basis is YachtByte's legitimate interest in operating a secure and reliable information service.
- Legal compliance: to retain or disclose limited records where applicable law requires it. The lawful basis is compliance with that legal obligation.
YachtByte does not use subscriber information for automated decision-making or profiling.
5. Email preferences and unsubscribing
Confirmation links, magic-login links, privacy-request messages, and account-retention warnings are service emails. They are not News Feed marketing messages.
News Feed email is optional and is not required for content access. Every News Feed email includes an unsubscribe link. You can also change the preference, deactivate the account, or request immediate deletion from the account page.
When you opt out, YachtByte keeps a minimal email suppression record so the address is not accidentally added to optional email again without a new request from you.
6. Cookies
YachtByte uses only the strictly necessary first-party cookies required for login sessions and form security. It does not currently use advertising, behavioural-tracking, or third-party analytics cookies. If you choose Google sign-in, you leave YachtByte temporarily and Google may use cookies on its own domains as described in Google's policies. Details are provided in the Cookie Policy.
7. Service providers and sharing
The website and database are hosted by Render in its Singapore region. Transactional email is delivered through the email service configured for YachtByte. If you choose Google sign-in, Google authenticates your Google account and provides YachtByte with your display name, verified email address, and a stable account identifier. YachtByte does not receive your Google password and does not store Google access or refresh tokens.
These providers process limited information needed to authenticate subscribers, host the site, store subscriber records, maintain security, and deliver requested messages.
YachtByte may disclose information where required by law, to protect the security of the service, or to obtain professional advice. YachtByte does not sell, rent, or trade subscriber information.
8. International processing
YachtByte is operated internationally and its hosting provider stores website and subscriber data in Singapore. Google and other service providers may also process information in other countries under their service terms and contractual data-protection arrangements. You can contact info@yachtbyte.com for information about the providers and safeguards relevant to your information.
9. Retention
YachtByte applies the following retention schedule and runs an automated cleanup process:
- unconfirmed subscriber records are deleted after 30 days;
- expired magic-link metadata is deleted 30 days after expiry;
- contact messages are deleted after 12 months;
- active accounts are reviewed after 23 months without a login, warned by email, and deleted after 24 months if there is no further activity;
- deactivated account profiles are deleted after six months;
- expired server-side login sessions are deleted and the session cookie expires after 14 days;
- Render application logs are retained according to the current workspace plan; and
- minimal suppression records are retained while YachtByte sends optional email, solely to respect opt-outs.
10. Your rights
Depending on the data-protection law that applies to you, you may have rights to access, correct, erase, restrict, object to processing of, or receive a portable copy of your personal information. Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time without affecting earlier lawful processing.
You have the right to object to direct marketing at any time. YachtByte will stop optional News Feed email when you unsubscribe.
To exercise a privacy right, contact info@yachtbyte.com. You may also complain to the data-protection authority that applies where you live or where the relevant processing occurs.
11. Security
YachtByte uses encrypted transport, secure and HTTP-only session cookies, form forgery protection, time-limited hashed login tokens, access controls, and restricted production secrets. No internet service can guarantee absolute security.
12. Changes to this policy
This policy will be reviewed when YachtByte changes its hosting, email, analytics, membership, or other personal-information processing. The review date shown on this page identifies the current version.