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How to Customize Map Styles and Add Map Layers in ShipIntel
How to Customize Map Styles and Add Map Layers in ShipIntel

Learn how to customize map styles and add various layers to your ShipIntel map.

Mikus Villeruss avatar
Written by Mikus Villeruss
Updated over 5 months ago

ShipIntel offers robust features for maritime professionals to customize their map views. In this guide, we will explain how to change the style of your map and add different map layers to enhance your navigation and operational efficiency.


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How to Change the Style of Your Map in ShipIntel

In ShipIntel, you have the ability to select different map styles to suit your preferences and operational needs. Whether you prefer a light theme for clarity, a dark theme for nighttime operations, or a satellite view for real-world imagery, ShipIntel provides the flexibility to customize your map experience.

Step-by-Step Guide to Change Your Map Style

1) Access the Map

Ensure that your screen displays the map in ShipIntel

2) Open Styles and Layers

Click on the icon in the upper right corner of your screen labeled "Styles and Layers." This will open the "Styles and Layers" menu.

The Map Styles and map layers menu in ShipIntel on web

3) Select Your Preferred Map Style

  • Light Theme: Ideal for daytime operations with high visibility.

  • Dark Theme: Suitable for nighttime or low-light environments.

  • Satellite View: Provides real-world display for detailed geographic context.

You can also choose between different map projections:

  • Standard Map Projection: Traditional flat map view.

  • 3D Globe Projection: Interactive 3D view of the globe.

As you select a style, the map will update in real-time behind the "Styles and Layers" menu.

4) Close the Menu

Click on the "X" in the upper left corner of the menu or click anywhere on the map behind the menu to apply your changes.

Example Map Styles

Satellite Map:

Maritime satellite map in ShipIntel

Dark Map:

Dark map in ShipIntel, with maritime shipping routes and vessels worldwide.

Light Map:

3D Globe Projection:

3D globe map in ShipIntel, with vessels sailing.


Adding Map Layers in ShipIntel

ShipIntel allows you to overlay various map layers to provide additional context and data for maritime navigation. These layers can include environmental zones, shipping activity, infrastructure, and more. Adding layers helps you gain deeper insights and improve your operational planning.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Add Map Layers

1) Access the Map

Ensure that your screen displays the map in ShipIntel

2) Open Styles and Layers

Click on the icon in the upper right corner of your screen labeled "Styles and Layers", as illustrated above. This will open the "Styles and Layers" menu.

3) Select Map Layers

Browse the available layers and click the button next to the desired layer to activate it. The button will turn blue when selected. You can add multiple layers at once. Available layers include:

  • Sulphur Emission Zones: Emission Control Areas (ECA/SECA)

  • LL: Load Line Zones

  • INL: International Navigating Limits

  • Polar Codes: IMO's polar water codes

  • Sea Ice Map: Real-time sea ice conditions, updated from NSIDC daily

  • Anti Shipping Activity: ASAM during the last year, updated daily

  • Canals and Waterways: Important shipping bottlenecks

  • War zones: High-risk areas and regions with warlike activity, impacting maritime navigation

  • Wind farms: Locations of offshore wind farms.

  • Oil and gas fields: Locations or offshore oil and gas fields

  • Maritime Judicial Zones: Judicial maritime zones and boundaries

List of maritime map layers in ShipIntel. The list include: Sulphur Emission Zones: Emission Control Areas (ECA/SECA), LL: Load Line Zones, INL: International Navigating Limits, Polar Codes: IMO's polar water codes, Sea Ice Map: Real-time sea ice conditions, updated from NSIDC daily, Anti Shipping Activity: ASAM during the last year, updated daily, Canals and Waterways: Important shipping bottlenecks., War zones: High-risk areas and regions with warlike activity, impacting maritime navigation, Wind farms: Locations of offshore wind farms, Oil and gas fields: Locations or offshore oil and gas fields, and Maritime Judicial Zones: Judicial maritime zones and boundaries.

Note: To select Maritime Judicial Zones, click on the "Maritime Judicial Zones" button. This will open a list of all judicial maritime borders and boundaries. Select specific country zones from the list, of search by name to select in.

4) Apply and Close

Once you have selected your preferred layers, close the menu by clicking the "X" in the upper left corner or by clicking on the map behind the menu.

Example Map Layers

Sulphur Emission Control Areas

Seca and Eca areas map in ShipIntel

War Zones and High-Risk Areas

war zones, warlike and maritime high risk area map in ShipIntel

Sea Ice

Map of sea ice areas in ShipIntel

Combining Styles and Layers

ShipIntel's customizable map styles and layers can be combined to create the optimal map view for your needs. Whether you're navigating through emission control areas, planning routes through canals, or monitoring sea ice conditions, you can tailor the map to display the most relevant information.

For enhanced route planning, we recommend using these features in combination with the ShipIntel Sea Route Calculator, which helps optimize your navigational decisions based on the latest data.

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