Before starting this In Port column my first job of the day was to move a large containership around the Port of Hamburg from one berth to another, as I tried my hand at Ship Simulator 2006, a revolutionary computer "game" that allows the player to helm large ships in three of the world's major ports on a home computer.

Sitting in a 3D environment, I began my mission. Helm hard aport, bow thruster set to starboard and dead slow ahead on the main engine, the containership slowly eased away from the wharf.

On my console was a GPS read out giving speed, a compass and waypoint feature and a small electronic chart. Leaving the container port behind, the vessel entered the River Elbe where I had to negotiate a great deal of traffic, finally mooring alongside my dedicated berth 30 minutes later. Believe me this is a top game that can be used as a valuable training aid as well as for fun.

Rotterdam-based company Vstep have sold nearly 60,000 copies of the game since it was launched in March, 2006. The game, which is in the top ten games throughout Europe, has a built-in scenario editor where the player can change weather conditions and new scenarios in 50 predefined missions.

Mr Cristijn Sarvaas, managing director of Vstep, said: "The simulator realistically responds to the variable climate conditions in the game and follows the ship's movements, reflecting the moving vessel and its environment in a natural way."

If you fancy being a pilot or ship's master then visit www.shipsim-secure.com for further details.