Today, Misc Games officially launched its largest test update yet for its hit sea simulator, Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7.
Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7 introduces the IMT 9604, a Class 4 mini Service Operation Vessel built for offshore missions. This addition expands offshore gameplay with advanced vessel systems, new crew transfer mechanics, deployable support craft, and enhanced multiplayer features.
The IMT 9604 is designed for offshore wind farm operations and team-based play, allowing up to 10 players to coordinate between the main vessel and support craft throughout missions. Players can now use animated davit systems to launch and recover support boats, bringing realistic deployment and retrieval to vessel operations.
A key feature is the Dynamic Positioning Class 2 (DP2) system, which uses active thruster control to keep the vessel steady against wind, waves, and currents, offering more precision than a standard autopilot. The IMT 9604 also introduces the Z-Bridge Bring-to-Work system, a motion-compensated platform for safe crew and cargo transfers between vessels and offshore structures.
The vessel features twin stern azimuth thrusters and a bow tunnel thruster, providing players with precise control for offshore work, docking, and holding position. Configurable azimuth thruster controls let players choose between traditional handling or a setup that replicates real-world offshore vessel operations. A handful of new industry partnerships are coming with Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7, with Longitude Engineering, Z-Bridge, and Steerprop bringing licensed vessel designs, crew transfer technology, and propulsion systems to Ships at Sea.
Longitude Engineering provides the foundation for the IMT 9604 design, which supports operations with both methanol and marine diesel fuel. Steerprop technology powers the vessel’s propulsion system, while some advanced controls are still in development, core azimuth thruster features are available in the test build.
The introduction of deployable support craft will further expand gameplay, allowing players to purchase, launch, recover, and operate these vessels independently, enabling multi-team offshore operations. Support vessels now feature waterjet propulsion systems, new controls, gauges, and nozzle trim adjustments that give players more control over stability, maneuverability, and performance in changing sea conditions.
A new propulsion and craft status display in Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7 lets operators monitor speed, engine status, fuel levels, water depth, RPM, and other key vessel data from a single interface. Another big change is that multiplayer now supports up to 16 players per dedicated server, doubling the previous capacity for larger companies, busier ports, and more complex co-op play.
Multiplayer sync is smoother, with less jitter and more consistent vessel movement in both server and co-op sessions. Dedicated servers even now support both Linux and Windows, and new hosting partnerships make server rental and setup easier, and server admin tools now offer configuration templates and setup guides. Players can add custom server descriptions to help others find the right community.
Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7 places a lot of emphasis on core refinements, including improvements to buoyancy, vessel handling, collisions, steering, and propulsion, and features better water masking to prevent flooding in enclosed spaces, as well as improved visuals for wave interactions. Visual upgrades bring improved wave foam, better water performance, enhanced lighting, and more realistic environmental and weather effects.
Shipyard and dry dock systems have been redesigned, and players can visit shipyards to buy and customize smaller vessels, while larger ships are managed in dry dock. Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7 offers new interfaces that improve vessel previews, camera controls, color customization, and upgrade management, resulting in a more transparent selling process with clearer transaction summaries.
Character customization has been expanded, allowing players to modify facial features, hairstyles, eye colors, clothing, and color schemes to allow more personalized captains. Player identity systems now feature customized character portraits on ship licenses, and new logbook features track stats like travel distance, contracts completed, and passenger transfers.
Audio and animation systems have been updated with new engine sounds, ambient ocean effects, walking audio, crane sounds, alarms, and interaction feedback for a highly immersive seafaring experience, laying the basis for future content in Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7. New fishing, maintenance, sitting, and NPC animations are also already in the test build, with more planned for future updates.
For UI, the skill tree has been reworked, removing obsolete skills and adding new abilities concentrated on efficiency, repair success, health restoration, and carrying capacity.
Offshore wind farm operations debut with new transport missions as of Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7, and players can tow replacement wind turbine blades and related infrastructure using upgraded cargo vessels and towing equipment. These logistics missions are the first step in a larger offshore renewable energy industry, with further updates planned. Additional maintenance tasks, infrastructure systems, and specialized vessel roles are in development.
Fishing gameplay in Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7 has also been refined with more realistic fish behavior, updated sonar, better catch balancing, improved fish handling, and stronger multiplayer support. World-building continues with upgraded lighting and environmental systems, as cities feature dynamic illumination, and volumetric fog and improved searchlight effects enhance nighttime operations.
New environmental details, vegetation, and harbor assets have been added across the map, introducing sailboats that are decorative for now, but will support future NPC vessel traffic systems.
Several major features are still in development, including expanded bridge controls, machinery spaces, crew accommodations, wind turbine interiors, advanced character animations, and more shipyard improvements. Misc Games ended the log by calling Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7 a foundational milestone, with a focus on systems that will support larger offshore operations, deeper vessel simulation, and much more.
For a full list of patch notes and other fixes coming alongside Ships at Sea Public Test v0.8.7, you can check out the official Steam post here.
