The user can steer various ships, amongst others a Rotterdam water taxi, a container ship and even the ill-fated RMS Titanic, in various weather conditions and in three real-life harbours, which are Rotterdam, Hamburg and Phi Phi Islands in Thailand; a fourth harbour, New York City was later released as a free download.

A game element is added to the simulation by means of forty "missions" which have to be completed as fast or as accurately as possible.

This version also features waves, weather, day/night time transitions, damage to vessels, and new boats and ships.

Free add-ons were reportedly available, including a hovercraft, jetski, barge, improved physics and possibly another environment.

Following a campaign by members of their growing fanbase, VSTEP agreed to include the ports of Dover and Calais (in one environment).

[9] Ship Simulator has been criticised for limitations in the replication of realistic controls and the lack of open architecture preventing users from creating their own vehicles and voyages.