Information update:: Future of Site for 2026
Posted by Forth & Clyde Control on 09-12-2025 13:46
As we near the end of 2025, six months since I began this site as a simple AIS for the Clyde, it's remit has, as you will see, got wider...there was always a point to be reached, where the site could serve in individual regions such as the Clyde and Forth, but also had a much wider scope...making this 'hybrid' has taken six months, but we are now on the cusp of achieving it.
This is NOT me turning my back on the Clyde, or localised reporting, quite the reverse.
The site's maps are now the focal point of the whole endeavour. They, all of them you see above, perform two CRUCIAL functions:
One, they report in the areas covered.
Two, much more powefully, they also report on ships BOUND for the regions.
What this means is, for each map, split up into three because the data transfer would be too great for your device, you can drill down to a port destination simply by tapping it. If that port is in your chosen map, and a ship is reporting a destination to it, the ship(s) appear and the others disappear.
The maps all share the ability to search by ship name also.
In each case, the search is instantaneous, and the map clears as you type. So now, in the main maps of the British Isles and Ireland, you can not only see ships in the direct region bound for a port, but in the wider European remit of the site's AIS listener bounds.
Now that the hybridisation is completed, almost, the site's name needs to reflect the more powerful capabilities and the unique nature of the maps...this will take place in 2026.
But, also, the main message board will become a reporting board for ALL ships as I update their profiles. Ships expected will still be retained for the Clyde, Forth and Belfast as a separate feature, but the site will become a reporting and cataloguing site for the entire British Isles and Irish ports the maps cover.
At present some 2000 ships are now catalogued with illustrations for 99 percent of them...as I update / curate vessels, not only will fresh updates of vessels not already covered be displayed on the main message board, but if a vessel is particularly newsworthy (change of name, ownership, newbuild, in the news etc etc) then I shall act as a feature editor and re-display / update existing records on this board.
In 2026 the site will also be fully searchable, so that all vessels, even if they are not live on the maps, can be searched for.
I hope this progression meets with all visitors approval, and that in 2026 no matter what part of the UK or Ireland (or overseas) you live in, or have an interest in, the constantly updating and curation of every vessel that comes into view gives you not only your local interest but widens the appeal of all things maritime in our waters.
This is NOT me turning my back on the Clyde, or localised reporting, quite the reverse.
The site's maps are now the focal point of the whole endeavour. They, all of them you see above, perform two CRUCIAL functions:
One, they report in the areas covered.
Two, much more powefully, they also report on ships BOUND for the regions.
What this means is, for each map, split up into three because the data transfer would be too great for your device, you can drill down to a port destination simply by tapping it. If that port is in your chosen map, and a ship is reporting a destination to it, the ship(s) appear and the others disappear.
The maps all share the ability to search by ship name also.
In each case, the search is instantaneous, and the map clears as you type. So now, in the main maps of the British Isles and Ireland, you can not only see ships in the direct region bound for a port, but in the wider European remit of the site's AIS listener bounds.
Now that the hybridisation is completed, almost, the site's name needs to reflect the more powerful capabilities and the unique nature of the maps...this will take place in 2026.
But, also, the main message board will become a reporting board for ALL ships as I update their profiles. Ships expected will still be retained for the Clyde, Forth and Belfast as a separate feature, but the site will become a reporting and cataloguing site for the entire British Isles and Irish ports the maps cover.
At present some 2000 ships are now catalogued with illustrations for 99 percent of them...as I update / curate vessels, not only will fresh updates of vessels not already covered be displayed on the main message board, but if a vessel is particularly newsworthy (change of name, ownership, newbuild, in the news etc etc) then I shall act as a feature editor and re-display / update existing records on this board.
In 2026 the site will also be fully searchable, so that all vessels, even if they are not live on the maps, can be searched for.
I hope this progression meets with all visitors approval, and that in 2026 no matter what part of the UK or Ireland (or overseas) you live in, or have an interest in, the constantly updating and curation of every vessel that comes into view gives you not only your local interest but widens the appeal of all things maritime in our waters.