Maritime Simulator Update 0.3 — NEW Features - Barrier Operations & Bug Fixes

Update 0.3 is live

These new features for Maritime Simulator have been planned for a while, and we have been busy implementing and testing these exciting new changes! This update adds new decisions for VTS operators and fixes several vessel-handling problems reported during Early Access. Thank you for helping us track them down.

New features

• Barrier operations: You can now close and reopen Thames Barrier spans and see their current signals. Approaching traffic must be held or assigned an available span.
• Collision warnings: The game now checks moving traffic for developing conflicts and shows the vessels involved, with a radio warning. Normal queues at the barrier noticeboards are excluded.
• Uber Ferry departure calls: Ferries ready to depart request clearance by radio and flash orange and white on the map. Starting their trip plays the VTS clearance response.
• Steam achievements: Five new achievements have been added, including one hidden achievement. Clocked In For Duty also has refreshed artwork, and every achievement now has matching colour and grayscale icons.

Vessel and barrier fixes

• Fixed cases where vessels could become stuck at a barrier noticeboard with no assigned span and no usable way to continue.
• Cargo vessels and tankers requiring a pilot now resume their journeys after boarding, with the pilot tug leading and the vessel following.
• A closed Charlie or Golf span now holds affected piloted traffic at the stopboard. Resume Trip can no longer force a pilot tug or its vessel through a closed span.
• A span can be closed once the vessel that used it has fully cleared the Thames Barrier Zone. Ships already travelling away from the barrier no longer keep that span locked until they despawn.
• Improved how approaching vessels release or change a span when it closes, while protecting a crossing that is already committed.
• Fixed emergency-response cases where the PLA Emergency Tug could overlap the RNLI RIB. The tug now follows behind when they attend together.
• Fixed cases where emergency responders remained at an incident instead of clearing the scene and returning to base.

Interface and audio improvements

• The expected-arrival bar now shows a countdown ETA and keeps the arrival details and ETA on one aligned line.
• Country flags now appear beside supported vessel registration countries in the ship panel.
• The active pause or time-speed button remains prominent while the other speed controls are dimmed.
• Radio calls are queued so Uber Ferry departure requests and clearances do not speak over other radio traffic.
• The simulation and its audio continue when you switch to another window or monitor.
• The barrier controls have been refined to make span status and operator feedback easier to read.

Thank you for playing Maritime Simulator and for sending detailed reports. Your feedback is helping us improve vessel traffic, emergency response, and barrier operations throughout Early Access.