Seafront Simulations has released Vessels: Global Shipping 24, a fully re-engineered version of its flagship maritime traffic package, now rebuilt from the ground up for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The release brings global shipping lanes to life with tens of thousands of vessels, over 15,000 of which are landable, and introduces a host of technical and visual improvements made possible by the new simulator’s water physics and performance systems.
This isn’t a quick port of the 2020 edition. The developer says that the system has been “rebuilt from the ground up” using new internal tools, designed to make the oceans busier without compromising stability or load times.
A world in motion
Vessels: Global Shipping 24 introduces what the developer describes as its largest maritime network to date, featuring expanded coverage across the world’s oceans, coastlines, and major trade routes. Ships move independently across mid-ocean corridors and port approaches, making long-haul and coastal flights feel more grounded in real-world activity.
Over 90 ship variants are included at launch (up from 54 in the original release) covering tankers, LNG carriers, bulkers, trawlers, cruise ships, dredgers, vehicle carriers, and more. Every model supports navigation lights, smoke and wake effects, and some include animated radar dishes.
For helicopter pilots, the biggest new feature may be the 15,000+ moving, landable ships scattered across the planet. The interactive web-based Global Shipping Map allows simmers to view every vessel’s starting position, type, and coordinates, and even filter by ships with helipads or landing decks before planning a route.
Rebuilt for MSFS 2024
According to Seafront, the new product was developed to take advantage of the simulator’s redesigned ocean and AI systems, which made it impossible to simply update the original add-on. The traffic system now runs fully offline, independent of any live feeds or model-matching services, meaning it remains consistent and predictable regardless of real-time data availability.
Performance has also been a core design goal. The developer claims fast load times and minimal FPS impact, even with worldwide coverage active. The traffic density is no longer tied to MSFS settings: the maximum number of ships is displayed automatically once the scenery is installed.
Pricing and upgrade path
Vessels: Global Shipping 24 launches at £15 (≈ $19.99 USD), with a £5 (~ $7) loyalty discount available for owners of the original 2020 version, redeemable via the same store where the first product was purchased (including the MSFS Marketplace, Orbx, Contrail, and Just Flight).
The Vessels Core Library remains a free prerequisite for all Seafront add-ons and is required for installation.
Those looking for technical specifics, compatibility notes, or upgrade details can read the full FAQ here:
https://www.seafrontsims.com/gs24-faq
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