Ship Inspection
On KlaipėdaTraffic.lt there is a small experimental tool:
when you click any AIS ship, you can select “Sail as this ship” — and the map switches into simulation mode.
It shows real-time COG, HDG, SOG, and DRIFT, with a dedicated panel at the bottom.
So, for a moment, you are seeing the world as if you were on the bridge of that vessel.
Is this something useful?
🔹 Do other AIS websites have this?
Large platforms like MarineTraffic, VesselFinder, FleetMon, etc., show positions, course, speed — but not in a live cockpit-style simulation mode.
They don’t let you “sail” along the course, watch the drift angle, heading, speed, and feel how the ship moves in real time.
So yes — it seems to be a unique approach, at least in AIS-viewer websites.
🔹 Could it be useful for mariners or students?
Maybe. It’s not a professional simulator like TRANSAS, Wärtsilä or Kongsberg.
But it can help beginners visualize real ship behavior:
✔ How ships line up with leading lines in Klaipeda channel
✔ How COG and HDG differ because of current or wind (drift)
✔ How long and slow the turning happens
✔ Why ferries always follow precise tracks
✔ Why tugboats rotate around their center when maneuvering
This is not a training tool — but it’s a live observation tool, using real AIS data as the “teacher.”
🔹 Could it help seafarers?
For professional navigation training — probably not.
For practicing basic situational awareness, drift angle, approach direction, or understanding channel alignment — maybe yes.
For cadets from maritime schools or anyone curious about how ships actually move — it could be surprisingly helpful.
🔹 Could it be used for research?
Perhaps — especially for:
• Traffic flow visualization
• Route pattern analysis
• Anchorage tracking (watching how vessels swing)
• Real vessel turning basins and maneuver time observation
Not scientific, but observational tool.
🔹 Or is it just for fun?
Honestly — probably also yes 🙂
It’s quite interesting to pick a ferry, tanker, or tug — and just “ride along” as it enters the port.
🌊 Conclusion
It’s not a maritime simulator.
It doesn’t pretend to be a training platform.
But it shows live vessel movement in a way that feels alive, not just dots on a map.
👉 Useful for curious people, marine students, AIS enthusiasts, or anyone who prefers “how ships actually move” instead of just position dots.
And if nobody needs it — at least it is a fun and educational experiment.
Visit KlaipedaTraffic facebook page
