Privacy Policy
Last updated: 31 August 2026
Introduction
Collins Maritime Ltd ("we", "us", "our") takes your privacy seriously. This policy sets out how we collect and use personal data when you visit maritimetradehistory.com or subscribe to our newsletter.
We are the data controller responsible for your personal data. We are registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Company: Collins Maritime Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales.
Company number: 17329459
Registered office: 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ
Contact: hello@collinsmaritime.com
What personal data we collect
We collect the following personal data:
- Email address — when you subscribe to our Substack newsletter via the signup form on this website. If you choose to provide your name when subscribing, we collect that too.
- Correspondence — if you contact us by email, we hold your email address and the contents of your message.
We do not collect any special-category (sensitive) data through this website. We do not knowingly collect data about children.
How we collect it
- Newsletter signup: the subscription form on this website is a Substack widget. When you submit your email address, it is transmitted directly to Substack Inc., which operates our newsletter platform. We access the subscriber list through our Substack account.
- Correspondence: any email you send us.
How and why we use your personal data
| Purpose | Legal basis under UK GDPR |
|---|---|
| Sending you the newsletter you subscribed to | Consent (Article 6(1)(a)) — given when you sign up |
| Responding to correspondence you send us | Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f)) — replying to people who contact us |
| Keeping records of communications for administrative and legal purposes | Legitimate interests, and where relevant legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c)) |
We do not use your personal data for automated decision-making or profiling.
Who we share your data with
- Substack Inc. — operates our newsletter service. Substack acts as a data processor in respect of our subscriber list and as a controller in respect of its own platform. See Substack's own privacy policy at substack.com/privacy.
- Google Workspace (Google LLC) — we use Google Workspace for business email and document storage, so correspondence you send us is processed on Google's infrastructure.
- Professional advisers — accountants, lawyers and similar, where necessary and only on a confidential basis.
- Regulatory or legal bodies — where required by law.
We do not sell your personal data. We do not share it with third parties for their own marketing.
International transfers
Some of our service providers (notably Substack and Google) are based in the United States and process personal data there. Where personal data is transferred outside the UK, we rely on the safeguards those providers have put in place, including the UK–US Data Bridge and Standard Contractual Clauses, as applicable.
How long we keep your data
- Newsletter subscribers: for as long as you remain subscribed. If you unsubscribe, we retain the fact of your prior subscription for a limited administrative period and then delete it in line with our internal retention policy.
- Correspondence: normally up to three years after the last communication, unless a longer period is required for legal, accounting or contractual reasons.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
- Ask us what personal data we hold about you (a "subject access request")
- Ask us to correct data that is wrong
- Ask us to delete data in certain circumstances
- Ask us to restrict how we use your data
- Object to our use of your data in certain circumstances
- Withdraw your consent at any time (for anything we do on the basis of consent)
- Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk / 0303 123 1113)
To exercise any of these rights, or if you have any questions about this policy, please contact us at hello@collinsmaritime.com.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The most recent version is always the one on this page, and the date at the top will change when we do.