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VirtualShip
Explore the ocean with a virtual research vessel

VirtualShip provides a framework to plan and conduct a virtual research expedition, receiving measurements as if they were coming from actual oceanographic instruments.

Rendering of the new Dutch Research Vessel Anna Weber-van Bosse on a sea of data
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Key Features & Capabilities

VirtualShip can be used to simulate and teach the planning, execution and analysis of ocean-based fieldwork

Train students and researchers

VirtualShip is a tool to train students and researchers in marine sciences for working at sea.

Plan and execute your own expedition

VirtualShip allows you to plan your expedition, including the route, instruments and data collection.

Integrate with the Marine Facilities Planning Portal

Plan your fieldwork at the marinefacilitiesplanning.com portal and use the downloaded route in VirtualShip.

Works with Copernicus Marine Service data

VirtualShip uses the copernicusmarine tool to seamlessly download hydrodynamic and biogeochemical data.

Simulate oceanographic instruments

VirtualShip simulates data retrieval from CTD, ADCP, XBT, surface drifters and Argo float instruments.

Experience life on board with VR

VirtualShip includes 360 videos for VR headsets to experience life on board a research vessel.

Built on OceanParcels

VirtualShip is built on top of OceanParcels, a Python library for simulating particle trajectories.

Free to use and open source

VirtualShip is free to use and open source. You can find the code on GitHub.

Funders

VirtualShip development has been supported by the following organisations:

Utrecht UniversityNIOZ
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© 2025, VirtualShip developers. Apache 2.0 Licensed.

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