Hello Captains,
We’re excited to share some big news: the mooring system has been completely reworked in Ships At Sea!
🌊 Dock Anywhere, Not Just on Markers
Gone are the days of fixed docking visuals around ports. With the new system, you’re free to dock at any available mooring. No more awkwardly lining up with black markers — as soon as you’re within the correct distance to the mooring, you can tie up your vessel.
We’ve also added more mooring points across the ports. This means docking is no longer restricted to predefined spots, and even overlapping docking is possible. You’ll have more freedom and flexibility when bringing your ship into harbor.
Not only does this make docking smoother and more immersive, it also prevents issues like ships tilting after loading a save game.
🌍 A More Immersive Experience
The upcoming Update v0.8.3 improves not just the gameplay flow, but also the look and feel of ports. Harbors are now cleaner and more authentic, free from cluttered docking visuals. Wherever you see a mooring, you know there’s a docking area — giving you the freedom to choose your spot and making ports feel more alive than ever.
⚓ Three Mooring Types
Ships At Sea now features three distinct mooring types, preparing harbors for the wide variety of vessels:
Small Moorings (Cleats) – Typically found on smaller metal piers, perfect for compact boats
Medium Moorings – Common in mid-sized ports, suited for most vessels
Large Moorings (Bollards) – Built with future, larger ships in mind, offering the space and stability needed for larger vessels
This system lays the foundation for the future. Some ports will only accommodate small or mid-sized ships, while others are capable of handling much larger vessels — making harbor layouts more realistic.
Realistic Docking Ropes (Work in Progress)
In addition to the new mooring system, we’re also reworking how docking ropes behave. Right now, ropes can sometimes appear to “float” when towing an object or securing your vessel. Our goal is to have ropes connect dynamically between ship and shore, removing the floating effect and adding a new layer of authenticity to docking and towing.
To achieve this, we’re implementing real-world mooring practices. For example, you’ll see ropes tied with a cleat hitch on smaller piers, or secured with a round turn around a bollard for mid-sized ports. These authentic details will make every docking feel complete, but also feel true to real harbour life.
This feature won’t be ready for v0.8.3, but development is underway, and we’re excited to bring it to you in a future update once it’s ready. In the meantime, we’re aiming to open up the public test for v0.8.3 on Friday, August 29th, and we’re really looking forward to hearing your feedback.
The reworked mooring system is just one step toward our larger vision for Ships At Sea. With your feedback and support, we’ll continue to expand, improve, and make the game the most authentic maritime experience possible. See you on the docks this Friday!
Team Misc Games