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Ship Map

A full year of merchant shipping movements animated on one dark globe and split by cargo type, which turns global trade into a visible swarm.

Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.

How to get the most from it

Ship Map sits in Map Oddities under Wander, filed as coffee break.

  • Set aside five to fifteen minutes and give it your proper attention.
  • Use a laptop or desktop computer — we file it as desktop only.
  • It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
  • No account needed — you can start without signing up.
  • Go in expecting something mesmerising, beautiful and brainy.

About this category: True-size comparisons, cable maps, road-only renderings and the maps whose whole purpose is to correct something you believed.

Good for

  • Filling a coffee break properly
  • Watching something hypnotic for a while
  • Looking at something lovely
  • Giving your brain a workout
  • A quiet break at your desk
  • Trying it with zero commitment

Ship Map: quick answers

Is Ship Map free?

Yes. Ship Map is free to use and needs no account.

Do I need an account to use Ship Map?

No. You can use Ship Map without signing up for anything.

Does Ship Map work on a phone?

Not well. We file Ship Map as desktop only, so open it on a laptop or desktop computer.

Is Ship Map safe for work?

Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.

How long does Ship Map take?

We file it as "Coffee break": Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention.

More in Map Oddities

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    • 10 min
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  • Drag countries across the Mercator projection and watch Greenland shrink to its actual size. Settles the argument in about ten seconds.

    • <1 min
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  • The planet chopped into three-metre squares, each given a three-word name, which is either brilliant or a licensing trap depending who you ask.

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