Beginner friendly · 5-minute read
How to use Portside
A quick tour of every feature. Follow the sections in order, or jump to what you need.
1
Getting started
Install and open. No account needed.
- Install Portside from the Play Store.
- Open the app — you'll land on the map.
- Allow location access when asked. It's only used to center the map on your position and to fill in coordinates when you tap Use current location. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere.
- That's it. You can log everything offline, forever, without an account.
Tip: the pill at the bottom of the map is your main control. + adds a vessel, the list icon opens your log, and the gear opens settings.
2
Sign on to a vessel
Marks the vessel you're currently working on.
- Tap the + button at the bottom of the map.
- Enter the vessel name, call sign, and IMO number.
- Tap Rank / Position and choose from the list, or type your own.
- Tap Sign On This Vessel.
While you're signed on, every port call you save goes into this vessel's history automatically. Same name, same session, one card in your log.
3
Log a port call
Add a stop to the vessel you're signed on to.
- Tap + again while signed on — the vessel fields are already filled in.
- Pick a country and status (Alongside, At Anchor, STS, Transiting).
- Tap Latitude and Longitude to enter coordinates. Use the DDM format (degrees + decimal minutes), or tap the crosshair to fill from your device location.
- Enter the port name and pick arrival and departure dates from the calendar.
- Add notes if you want — cargo, berth, delays, anything.
- Tap SAVE.
You can add as many ports as you need during one session. They all stay grouped under the same vessel card.
4
Edit or delete a port
Fix a mistake or remove a stop.
- Tap the list icon → tap a vessel → its port history opens.
- Swipe left on a port for Edit and Delete actions.
- Or long-press a port card to see its full details.
- To make retroactive changes: open a port → Edit → change any field → SAVE.
- You can also mark a port as your sign-off point right from the edit screen.
Deleting a port is permanent. If you just need to correct it, edit instead.
5
Sign off
Close the session when you leave the vessel.
- Tap + → tap Sign Off (bottom of the sheet).
- Confirm. The session is archived with a SIGNED OFF pill on the last port.
- Your next port call will start a fresh session under a new vessel card.
Forgot to sign off? Open the port where you actually left → Edit → toggle Mark as sign-off point → SAVE. The session closes retroactively.
6
Download offline maps
Save coastal regions for use with no signal.
- Tap ⚙ → Offline Map Manager.
- Tap + Add Region.
- Pan the map to the coastal area you need.
- Drag the rectangle over the region you want to save.
- Move the zoom slider — higher zoom = more detail but more space.
- Tap SAVE → name the region.
- The download starts automatically. Tap a saved region any time to fly the map there.
Offline maps take storage. A typical harbor region uses a few MB. Bigger areas = more space.
7
Cloud sync (optional)
Back up and sync across devices — for a fee.
- Tap ⚙ → Account → Sign In or Sign Up.
- Enter your email and a password. Confirm via the link or the 6-digit code in the email.
- Once signed in, tap Sync Now any time to push your log to the cloud.
- On another device, sign in with the same account to pull everything down.
Creating an account is free. Cloud sync itself is an optional paid upgrade. Your local log works fine without any account.
8
Export & import
Back up your log or move it to a new phone.
- Tap ⚙ → Storage & Data.
- Export vessel records → saves both JSON and CSV files. Share them via Drive, email, or any app.
- Import vessel records → pick a JSON or CSV file to merge the log into your account.
Export regularly — it's the safest backup. Files are yours; nobody else sees them.
9
Light & dark mode
Match your phone's theme automatically, or pick your own.
- Tap ⚙ → App Appearance.
- Choose Auto (System), Light, or Dark.
- The map, the pill, and every sheet re-theme instantly — no restart.