diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/apply.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/apply.rs
index 4b9646ea..a3d6cbd1 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/apply.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/apply.rs
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/citizen.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/citizen.rs
index 510deda5..b6c0181e 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/citizen.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/citizen.rs
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/diplomacy.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/diplomacy.rs
index 9dd1e4fb..efcd4f68 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/diplomacy.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/diplomacy.rs
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/mod.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/mod.rs
index 5ca8d785..ac92fea9 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/mod.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/mod.rs
@@ -457,6 +457,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/movement.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/movement.rs
index 3a4fa58a..5b85fd60 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/movement.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/movement.rs
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ pub(crate) fn decide_movement(
     let is_trailing = compute_is_trailing(state, me);
 
     // Passable-ground lookup for frontier exploration (p3-17), built once.
-    let passable = passable_land_hexes(&state.map);
+    let passable = passable_hexes(&state.map, state.embark_level);
 
     let mut actions = Vec::with_capacity(me.units.len());
 
@@ -857,10 +857,29 @@ pub(crate) fn decide_siege_action(
 /// needed and the function stays deterministic on `state` alone.
 /// Set of passable land hexes on the map, for keeping exploration on
 /// reachable ground. Built once per `decide_movement` call.
-fn passable_land_hexes(map: &TacticalMap) -> HashSet<(i32, i32)> {
+fn passable_hexes(map: &TacticalMap, embark: mc_core::EmbarkLevel) -> HashSet<(i32, i32)> {
+    use mc_core::grid::biome_registry::{has_tag, BiomeTag};
+    use mc_core::EmbarkLevel;
     map.tiles
         .iter()
-        .filter(|t| !IMPASSABLE_BIOMES.contains(&t.biome.as_str()))
+        .filter(|t| {
+            // Ordinary land is always passable.
+            if !IMPASSABLE_BIOMES.contains(&t.biome.as_str()) {
+                return true;
+            }
+            // p3-18 — water tiles open to embarked land units per the player's
+            // embark capability (coast water needs Coast, open/deep ocean needs
+            // Ocean). Non-water impassables (mountains / volcano / ice) stay
+            // blocked. Mirrors `mc_pathfinding::is_passable`.
+            if !has_tag(&t.biome, BiomeTag::IsWater) {
+                return false;
+            }
+            match embark {
+                EmbarkLevel::None => false,
+                EmbarkLevel::Coast => has_tag(&t.biome, BiomeTag::IsCoast),
+                EmbarkLevel::Ocean => true,
+            }
+        })
         .map(|t| t.hex)
         .collect()
 }
@@ -1001,7 +1020,7 @@ mod tests {
         let map = plains_map(10, 10);
         // Unit + capital tucked in the (0,0) corner → far side is (9,9).
         let me = player(0, vec![warrior(1, (1, 1), 10)], vec![city(0, (0, 0), true)], vec![0, 0]);
-        let passable = passable_land_hexes(&map);
+        let passable = passable_hexes(&map, mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None);
         let action = score_explore_move(&me.units[0], &me, &map, &passable);
         let Some(Action::MoveUnit { unit_id, to_hex }) = action else {
             panic!("expected an exploration move, got {action:?}");
@@ -1028,7 +1047,7 @@ mod tests {
             Some((3, 0)),
             "nearest unexplored tile is the frontier target"
         );
-        let passable = passable_land_hexes(&map);
+        let passable = passable_hexes(&map, mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None);
         let Some(Action::MoveUnit { to_hex, .. }) =
             score_explore_move(&me.units[0], &me, &map, &passable)
         else {
@@ -1051,7 +1070,7 @@ mod tests {
             None,
             "a fully-explored map has no frontier"
         );
-        let passable = passable_land_hexes(&map);
+        let passable = passable_hexes(&map, mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None);
         assert!(
             score_explore_move(&me.units[0], &me, &map, &passable).is_some(),
             "fully-explored fallback still yields an exploration move"
@@ -1070,7 +1089,7 @@ mod tests {
             }
         }
         let me = player(0, vec![warrior(1, (1, 1), 10)], vec![city(0, (0, 0), true)], vec![0, 0]);
-        let passable = passable_land_hexes(&map);
+        let passable = passable_hexes(&map, mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None);
         if let Some(Action::MoveUnit { to_hex, .. }) =
             score_explore_move(&me.units[0], &me, &map, &passable)
         {
@@ -1078,6 +1097,39 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn embark_opens_water_for_passability() {
+        use mc_core::EmbarkLevel;
+        // strip: plains | open ocean | coastal water.
+        let mut map = plains_map(3, 1);
+        map.tiles[1].biome = "ocean".into();
+        map.tiles[2].biome = "coast".into();
+
+        let none = passable_hexes(&map, EmbarkLevel::None);
+        assert!(none.contains(&(0, 0)));
+        assert!(!none.contains(&(1, 0)), "ocean blocked without embark");
+        assert!(!none.contains(&(2, 0)), "coast blocked without embark");
+
+        let coast = passable_hexes(&map, EmbarkLevel::Coast);
+        assert!(coast.contains(&(2, 0)), "coast passable with Coast embark");
+        assert!(!coast.contains(&(1, 0)), "open ocean still needs Ocean embark");
+
+        let ocean = passable_hexes(&map, EmbarkLevel::Ocean);
+        assert!(
+            ocean.contains(&(1, 0)) && ocean.contains(&(2, 0)),
+            "all water passable with Ocean embark"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn embark_never_opens_non_water_impassables() {
+        use mc_core::EmbarkLevel;
+        let mut map = plains_map(2, 1);
+        map.tiles[1].biome = "mountains".into();
+        let p = passable_hexes(&map, EmbarkLevel::Ocean);
+        assert!(!p.contains(&(1, 0)), "embark must not open mountains/volcano/ice");
+    }
+
     fn empty_map() -> TacticalMap {
         TacticalMap {
             width: 0,
@@ -1178,6 +1230,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -1201,6 +1254,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         };
         let actions = decide_movement(&s, &weights(), &mut rng(), None, &mut crate::tactical::memory::TacticalMemory::default());
         assert!(actions.is_empty());
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/production.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/production.rs
index ab872727..ab96173d 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/production.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/production.rs
@@ -940,6 +940,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/scoring.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/scoring.rs
index 9dcc43ba..ccdd5875 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/scoring.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/scoring.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/settle.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/settle.rs
index 514cff0e..aa4898fa 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/settle.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/settle.rs
@@ -422,6 +422,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/state.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/state.rs
index 88e52300..ccb0e0c6 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/state.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/state.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ pub struct TacticalState {
     /// `difficulty.json::ai_modifiers.difficulty_threshold_mult` by the bridge.
     #[serde(default = "default_threshold_mult")]
     pub difficulty_threshold_mult: f32,
+    /// p3-18 — the bound player's embarkation capability (data-driven from naval
+    /// tech; see [`mc_core::EmbarkLevel`]). Lets movement passability open water
+    /// tiles so a teched army can path across water. Defaults to `None`
+    /// (land-locked) when a projection or the bridge omits it.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel,
 }
 
 fn default_threshold_mult() -> f32 {
@@ -359,6 +365,7 @@ impl TacticalEphemerals {
             unit_catalog: self.unit_catalog,
             building_catalog: self.building_catalog,
             difficulty_threshold_mult: self.difficulty_threshold_mult,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -524,6 +531,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -553,6 +561,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         };
         let json = serde_json::to_string(&empty).expect("serialize");
         let back: TacticalState = serde_json::from_str(&json).expect("deserialize");
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/tree_state.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/tree_state.rs
index 1ca0ed72..17a65c04 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/tree_state.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/tactical/tree_state.rs
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ mod tests {
             unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
             building_catalog: Vec::new(),
             difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+            embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/tests/personality_building_bias.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/tests/personality_building_bias.rs
index 25325581..481c3953 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/tests/personality_building_bias.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/tests/personality_building_bias.rs
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ fn state_with(player: TacticalPlayerState) -> TacticalState {
         unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
         building_catalog: catalog,
         difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+        embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/tests/tactical_port_regression.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/tests/tactical_port_regression.rs
index b78eadb1..24e75d71 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/tests/tactical_port_regression.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/tests/tactical_port_regression.rs
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ fn two_player_state() -> TacticalState {
         unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
         building_catalog: Vec::new(),
         difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+        embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
     }
 }
 
@@ -222,6 +223,7 @@ fn settler_only_state() -> TacticalState {
         unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
         building_catalog: Vec::new(),
         difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+        embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
     }
 }
 
@@ -279,6 +281,7 @@ fn production_state() -> TacticalState {
         unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
         building_catalog: Vec::new(),
         difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+        embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
     }
 }
 
@@ -360,6 +363,7 @@ fn tactical_state_empty_roundtrip() {
         unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
         building_catalog: Vec::new(),
         difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+        embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
     };
     let json = serde_json::to_string(&state).expect("serialize");
     let back: TacticalState = serde_json::from_str(&json).expect("deserialize");
@@ -392,6 +396,7 @@ fn tactical_state_with_100_tile_map_roundtrip() {
         unit_catalog: Vec::new(),
         building_catalog: Vec::new(),
         difficulty_threshold_mult: 1.0,
+        embark_level: mc_core::EmbarkLevel::None,
     };
     let json = serde_json::to_string(&state).expect("serialize");
     let back: TacticalState = serde_json::from_str(&json).expect("deserialize");
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-player-api/src/projection.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-player-api/src/projection.rs
index 62ddb132..969f91f9 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-player-api/src/projection.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-player-api/src/projection.rs
@@ -1036,6 +1036,14 @@ pub fn project_tactical_with_vision(
         1.0
     };
 
+    // p3-18 — surface the bound player's embark capability so the tactical
+    // movement passability can open water tiles for a teched army.
+    let embark_level = state
+        .players
+        .get(player as usize)
+        .map(|p| p.embark_level)
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+
     TacticalState {
         current_player: player,
         turn: state.turn,
@@ -1044,6 +1052,7 @@ pub fn project_tactical_with_vision(
         unit_catalog,
         building_catalog,
         difficulty_threshold_mult,
+        embark_level,
     }
 }