Microsoft Flight Simulator has built-in boats. Learn how to increase ship traffic, install add-ons, and fix vessels that do not appear.
Yes. Microsoft Flight Simulator includes animated ships, ferries and leisure boats, controlled by maritime traffic density settings, but it does not provide full live AIS vessel traffic. On PC, add more by installing a compatible ship-traffic package in the Community folder; console users are limited to add-ons released for their platform.
What boats does Microsoft Flight Simulator include?
MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 both display maritime traffic, although its density and variety depend on the location, traffic settings and installed scenery. The standard selection is modest compared with a dedicated ship-traffic package.
In MSFS 2020, the relevant Traffic settings are labelled Ships and Ferries and Leisure Boats. Menu organisation can differ in MSFS 2024, so search the settings for ship, ferry or boat traffic if those labels are not immediately visible.
These vessels are separate from live aircraft traffic and multiplayer. Increasing airline traffic will not add ships. Boats included as static scenery or baked into photogrammetry are also unaffected by the maritime traffic sliders.
| Type | What it provides | Best choice when |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in maritime traffic | Basic moving ships, ferries and leisure craft | You want traffic without installing anything |
| Route-based ship package | Extra vessel models and scheduled maritime routes | You want busier ports and shipping lanes |
| Static harbour scenery | Moored boats placed at one location | You care about a particular marina or port |
| Controllable watercraft | A boat operated by the player | You want to drive rather than observe vessels |
How do I install more boat traffic on PC?
PC users add boat traffic by installing a compatible route-and-vessel package in the Community folder used by their active simulator installation.
- Check compatibility. Confirm that the package supports MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024 or both. Compatibility with one edition does not guarantee compatibility with the other.
- Download and extract the archive. Do not place the compressed ZIP or other archive directly in the Community folder.
- Find the actual package folder. Its top level should normally contain files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.json. A second unnecessary folder level is a common reason add-ons fail to load. - Copy it into Community. Use the Community folder belonging to the simulator installation you launch; MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 may use different locations.
- Remove competing ship packs while testing. Two global route packages can produce duplicate vessels, conflicting routes or unnecessary performance loss.
- Restart the simulator normally. Community content is disabled when MSFS starts in Safe Mode.
- Enable maritime traffic. Set the ship and leisure-boat density above zero, following any specific value recommended by the package author.
A practical starting point is our free global AI ships and boats package, which adds more than 1,000 vessel models along with ferries, fishing boats, yachts and worldwide maritime routes. Read its compatibility and traffic-setting notes before installation.
Why is my MSFS boat traffic not showing?
Missing boat traffic is usually caused by a disabled traffic setting, an incorrectly nested package or testing away from the add-on's routes.
- Check both maritime sliders: ship-and-ferry traffic and leisure boats are usually controlled separately.
- Inspect the folder structure: opening the installed package folder should reveal its package files, not another identically named folder.
- Test near a major port or shipping lane: route-based packages do not scatter boats evenly across every stretch of water.
- Allow for schedules: some AI vessels follow timed routes, so a valid route may not have a ship at your exact position immediately.
- Disable other maritime packages: duplicated route files and vessel libraries can conflict or create excessive traffic.
- Leave Safe Mode: MSFS deliberately excludes Community packages there.
- Verify the simulator edition: an older MSFS 2020 package may require an update before it works correctly in MSFS 2024.
If performance falls around busy ports, reduce the maritime density settings before removing the add-on. Maximum density is rarely necessary, particularly when a global route pack already supplies many scheduled vessels.
Can I add boat traffic on Xbox or PlayStation?
Console players cannot install ordinary Community-folder boat packages. They can use only compatible maritime add-ons distributed through the in-simulator Marketplace for that console.
MSFS 2020 is available on PC and Xbox, while MSFS 2024 is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Marketplace availability can differ by simulator edition and platform, so a PC package should not be assumed to have a console version.
Can I control the boats or land on aircraft carriers?
Ordinary AI boats are scenery traffic and cannot be controlled from the cockpit. Controllable boats require a separate watercraft add-on, while usable carriers need dedicated scenery or moving-carrier packages rather than the standard boat-traffic setting.
Carrier locations, moving decks and console restrictions are covered separately in our guide to finding and using aircraft carriers in Microsoft Flight Simulator.