Privacy Policy

Courtesy translation — the German version is legally binding.

Controller:
rubberduck software, Christian Möllerherm, 41747 Viersen, email: ahoi@kielwasser.blog

Principle

Kielwasser is ad-free. We do not sell data, use no tracking or advertising cookies, and collect only what is required to run the platform.

Hosting

This website is hosted by IONOS SE (Elgendorfer Straße 57, 56410 Montabaur) on servers within the EU. Technically necessary server logs (IP address, time, requested page, user agent) are processed (Art. 6 (1) f GDPR — secure operation). A data processing agreement with IONOS is in place.

Cookies

Only technically necessary cookies are used: your language choice (kw_lang, 1 year) and — for logged-in users only — the WordPress login cookies. No consent-banner services.

Maps (OpenStreetMap)

Passage pages embed map tiles from the OpenStreetMap Foundation (Cambridge, UK). Your IP address is transmitted to their servers (Art. 6 (1) f GDPR — displaying the route). Details: OSMF Privacy Policy.

Ship’s log accounts

Upon registration we process your email address, chosen name and your content (reports, tracks, photos) to provide your ship’s log (Art. 6 (1) b GDPR). GPS metadata in uploaded photos is removed automatically. You can export your content at any time; on request we delete your log entirely.

Your rights

You have the rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, data portability and objection (Art. 15–21 GDPR), and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

The Rubberduck app

The controller for app and platform is rubberduck software (see imprint). The app processes your logbook data (GPS tracks, entries, photos, boat and crew data) locally on your device. If you use iCloud sync, this data is stored in your private iCloud (Apple) — inaccessible to us. For weather and tide forecasts, the app transmits coordinates to Open-Meteo and WorldTides — without any account or device identifier. Purchases are handled exclusively by the respective store — Apple on the App Store, Google on the Play Store; we receive no payment data. Device sync uses your private iCloud on iOS (inaccessible to us); Android has no iCloud, so there it runs through kielwasser.blog and is tied to your Kielwasser account. That data then sits with us, stays tied to your account and is not analysed; delete your account and it goes with it.

Only if you voluntarily create a Kielwasser account and publish content do the sections above additionally apply. You can delete your account including the blog at any time directly in the app (Settings → Kielwasser-Blog → Delete account & blog).

Area news (app)

The Rubberduck app can display official notices to skippers for your current sailing area. To do so, the app transmits a position rounded to approx. 1 km to kielwasser.blog to deliver matching notices (Art. 6 (1) b GDPR — providing the feature). The position is not stored, not linked to any account and not used for profiling; only the usual server logs apply (see Hosting). The area news page of this website can likewise use the browser position on request, or resolve an entered place name via the Open-Meteo geocoding API; only a position rounded to approx. 1 km or the entered place name is transmitted, without storage or account linkage. The notices come from public services (incl. Rijkswaterstaat, ELWIS/WSV, Søfartsstyrelsen, Sjöfartsverket, HHI Croatia, Guardia Costiera, HNHS Greece, Armada/NAVAREA III, EuRIS, Canal & River Trust, Trinity House) — no user data is passed on to them.

Dictation and place search (app)

Dictation. Log entries can be spoken instead of typed. The microphone is active only while you speak; recognition runs on your device, and the recording is discarded once it has been turned into text (Art. 6 (1) b GDPR — providing the feature). One exception you should know about: the settings contain a switch „Better recognition when online“. With it enabled, the operating system passes the audio to Apple’s or Google’s speech recognition, where their own privacy terms apply. The switch is off by default. As long as it stays off, no recording leaves your device.

Recognition model. For on-device recognition you can download a model (approx. 465 MB). The app fetches it from kielwasser.blog; this produces the usual server logs (see Hosting) plus whether the request comes from iOS or Android — without any account or device identifier. The model then sits on your device and can be deleted there.

Place search. When you enter your home port, the app suggests places to choose from. The text you type is sent to the Open-Meteo geocoding API for this — without storage and without account linkage. You can also simply fill the field in freely; then no request is made.

Donations (Buy Me a Coffee)

On the “Support Kielwasser” page (/unterstuetzen/) you can donate voluntarily. Payment is handled via the Buy Me a Coffee platform (operated by Publisherr Inc, 2193 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA). Clicking the donation button takes you to Buy Me a Coffee; any payment data you enter there is processed by Buy Me a Coffee and its payment processor (Stripe) under their privacy policy. This involves a transfer of data to the USA. kielwasser.blog neither receives nor stores payment or account data; we only see that a donation has arrived. Legal basis is Art. 6 (1) b and f GDPR (handling the donation you requested and legitimate interest in operating the service). Donations are voluntary and without any return.

Delete account and data

You can delete your account and all associated data at any time — in the app or by email. Instructions: kielwasser.blog/konto-loeschen.