OK, OK, I know I haven't written a thing about my recent (amazing) trip to the Cyclades, but as a post-script to that visit I've got a new favourite website. It's a bit geeky perhaps, and not of general interest to many, but it is an amazing piece of work and shows just what can be done with the Google Maps API.
The site is MarineTraffic.com and it uses Google Maps to show the locations of ships. Primarily at the moment it's limited to Europe, more particularly the Med and more particularly the Aegean. But that's perfect for me! It does cover areas beyond the Aegean to an extent, and even shows ships on the Rhine at Dusseldorf, Duisberg etc.
It's pretty extensive and you can click on a ship to find out more information about it (destination, ETA, vessel specs & photos, trace of where it's been) and you can upload your own photos if you have some (and I have some!).
I could play on it all day, watching to see where our favourite ferries - Blue Star Superferry II, Naxos, Paros and Ithaki; Hellenic Seaways High Speed 3; ANES Simi II and Aegli; King Saron and a host of others we've come to know and love.
It's a bit processor intensive mind, especially when zoomed out just due to the number of ships it has to draw!
Have a look, at least once.
That are a lot of ships sailing around the Greek islands!
Posted by: helga | July 03, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Sat here watching the Ithaki heading towards Syros thinking i should be on that ship sitting on the open deck, in the sun, drinking a frappe. The Cyclades are amazing islands can't wait to go back.
Posted by: Susan | July 03, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Take me with you!
Posted by: Steve | July 03, 2008 at 12:47 PM
looking forward to seeing these boats for real - I think we are on teh same holiday countdown!
Posted by: Sandy | August 26, 2008 at 05:14 PM