Starting out with SeaPorts

[Cougar2004 127]

What are the best SeaPorts to add to the game?  And will all Seaports safely work together?

 

I have played SC4 a long time, but neglected water for too long. I've got the Ferries down now, so I'm moving on to Seaports and the Maxis default Seaport has begun to bore me. Plus I've recently learned that it doesn't exactly work all that well for Industry, so I'm looking for some additional Seaports to add to the game that will work for Industry properly (functionally), look great (visually), but not conflict with each other.  

 

Is there just one best Seaport to go with, or how did you decide what to use?  

 

I've noticed a lot of outdated Seaports on the STEX, many say obsolete, no longer supported, or have bugs people complain about in the reviews.  I noticed the LEX had 1 Seaport download that might help me with the functionality concern. But I'm curious what other things of it.  I also noticed the PLEX has a plethora of Seaport-looking downloads, but im unclear if those are just regular residential and commercial that LOOK like they fit into a Seaport type of setting.

 

Do you have something to suggest to help get me started with Seaports beyond the default Maxis version?  I'd love to hear from you! Thanks!

[Ltw 401]

I'm using has a railway connection and replaces the default seaport. I like it because it has more realism than the default airport (like the cranes). You could also download PEGs plopable ships if you want to add more realism at your harbor.

[Kentpumas1980 4]

Love a good seaport myself, and I've been terraforming my coastal areas in prep for a massive docklands....so I'm on the lookout for some good docks / ports myself.

 

I've seen the PEG one one the STEX before, but haven't downloaded yet because of some of the comments about the dependencies being the wrong ones, the cranes, railways not displaying, etc.

Anyone have any others they can recommend?

[AcronShinra 60]

Personally I can only recommend everything water related from PEG. As he has created a quite big number of nice plopables, checking lots list on his site together with STEX is a must, to not skip important dependency or to be sure if you have all buildings from given pack.

It took me about half of day to get 95% of all his lots. But the good side is - there is never enough of coastline to plop everything I'd want.

Of course I'm not forcing you to go into extreme from the beginning like me, but at least check lots from PEG's 'CDK3-SP Seaports' pack

[Ltw 401]

 

I've seen the PEG one one the STEX before, but haven't downloaded yet because of some of the comments about the dependencies being the wrong ones, the cranes, railways not displaying, etc.

 

I had that same issue. Googling the exact name solved it. I believe the dependency-list was linked to the website from PEG, but those links were broken. However, the dependencies are also uploaded to the STEX, so that shouldn't be a problem after all. It's fully functional with cranes and railways displaying in my cities.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I have no problems with the PEG CDK set.  Get it from Simpeg.  Example:

 

[Kentpumas1980 4]

 

 

I've seen the PEG one one the STEX before, but haven't downloaded yet because of some of the comments about the dependencies being the wrong ones, the cranes, railways not displaying, etc.

 

I had that same issue. Googling the exact name solved it. I believe the dependency-list was linked to the website from PEG, but those links were broken. However, the dependencies are also uploaded to the STEX, so that shouldn't be a problem after all. It's fully functional with cranes and railways displaying in my cities.

 

Looks like its worth the effort for sure....I've got the STEX discs on the way, so once I've gone through them I'll have a good look at the PEG stuff.

 

My only concern is that I'll install so much stuff my in-game menus are gonna take forever to scroll through! :-D   How much stuff can you put in your plugin folder before it starts to slow the game?

Awesome docks Moose!...just the sort of thing I'm aiming for

[Ltw 401]

 

 

 

I've seen the PEG one one the STEX before, but haven't downloaded yet because of some of the comments about the dependencies being the wrong ones, the cranes, railways not displaying, etc.

 

I had that same issue. Googling the exact name solved it. I believe the dependency-list was linked to the website from PEG, but those links were broken. However, the dependencies are also uploaded to the STEX, so that shouldn't be a problem after all. It's fully functional with cranes and railways displaying in my cities.

 

Looks like its worth the effort for sure....I've got the STEX discs on the way, so once I've gone through them I'll have a good look at the PEG stuff.

 

My only concern is that I'll install so much stuff my in-game menus are gonna take forever to scroll through! :-D   How much stuff can you put in your plugin folder before it starts to slow the game?

Awesome docks Moose!...just the sort of thing I'm aiming for

 

 

That all depends on the computer. I'm playing Simcity 4 on a Pentium 4. This computer is quite old but the benefit is that I don't have problems with CPU cores etc. However, since that computer is very old it took forever to load at some point. When my plugin folder got to a size of 1,5GB it wasn't playable anymore. After that I've Datpacked my whole plugin-folder (https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=26), after that it took 7 minutes to load Simcity 4. The speed ingame is acceptable. So you don't have to worry about playability, even with a 7 years old computer there are ways to make it playable with a large plugin folder (though it would be killing to go for a plugin-folder of 5GB, would have to buy a i5 for that I guess).

[Kentpumas1980 4]

I play my on a laptop as its nice to be able to move round the house with it (I can keep the missus company on the sofa if she's watching some rubbish on TV and still have some SC4). Went for one that had as quick a processor as I could afford, lots or RAM, etc.

 

Works pretty well...much better than the old laptop I was using which I got in 2004...it was running like a dog on that!

 

Plugin folder is at 350mb so far so plenty of room yet (hopefully!)

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

My plugins are running just under a Gig, and my loading time is around a minute.  I keep all the junk out of my plugins, and am pretty selective.  I don't have RHW because I don't use it for my current stuff.  Custom loading the NAM can make quite a difference if you know what you want to use.

[Cougar2004 127]

I have no problems with the PEG CDK set.  Get it from Simpeg.  Example:

 

 

Great picture! Thanks for sharing.  Hope to build something that great one of these days.  

 

So it sounds like there really arent very many solutions for Seaports, Just the PEG (PLEX) large beautiful set and the Functional from BSC (LEX).   Anyone know if these two sets can safely be used together at the same time in the same city, or if not, what are the issues and how critical would they be?  Thanks!

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

There seem to be some draw backs, mostly to do with CAMpatibles and such. Start with the CDK set and start adding cautiously using a sandbox city.

[Indiana Joe 1,751]

The BSC seaports claim to be compatible with other seaports, but the PEG Seaport Controller File description says that it will not work with any other seaport controller.  Since compatibility has to be two-way, you can't use both.

 

What you can do is use the majority of the CDK set, without using any of the functional seaport lots, and also use the BSC seaports.

 

However I'd recommend just going completely PEG, since all the pieces will line up nicely together (I also personally think they look better).

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The only problem I have with PEGs stuff is their buoyage images.  Too large, and red and green are the only ones.  Someone should have a look at the IALA System B buoyage card.  Great project for someone, especially if it is in proportion to everything else and working properly.  I am not sure how you would show a quick flashing or very quick flashing light.

 

For people in Europe, you'd need IALA system A.

[Mr Saturn64 742]

Well, I wouldn't recommend starting with a seaport unless you have plans for an industrial future.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

My seaports are nearly always surrounded by one or more industrial pods.  Usual pattern from the water's edge is Seaport(s), Industrial zone, supporting commercial zone, residential.  PEGs seaports are rail enabled which can lead to some interesting rail spurs in the industrial zone.

 

This is under development, but you see the zoning.

 

[KonstantinII 1,106]

go here and take inspiration from these ports.

 

I found a cargo container ship

http://www2.yuhisa.com/cgi/c-board/c-board.cgi?cmd=one;no=49;id=

[dekiscool 6]

I'm using has a railway connection and replaces the default seaport. I like it because it has more realism than the default airport (like the cranes). You could also download PEGs plopable ships if you want to add more realism at your harbor.

 

Ok so I tried this one Ltw recommended...I ended up googling the dependencies to download because I couldn't really find them on the PEG site. So I loaded it all into my plugin folder and opened the game and deleted the old seaport...fixed the land and then FINALLY plopped the new seaport...and this is what I got

 

 

What I want to know...1...what is missing other than cranes? And while it shows that cars can get to it, the roads don't actually connect to it...it looks like cars have to turn around. And do I just plop railroad track to it like the road?

[IljaS 54]

Peg linked all dependencies for each file at the end of every post. There is no need to google them. It seems that you are missing at least PEG-CDK3 Super Pack.

Road should horizontally above the lot. Now you are trying to place where the rail would go. Those two openins at the fence are the places where lot connects to road. The central opening - where you are trying to get your road - is where the rail would be connected. That connection is functional and allows freight to move in to this port. Lower connections allow CDK lots with rails to connect with each other, when plopped side by side.

[Ro-Bo 183]

I think you'll need too. It's listed as dependencies on PLEX.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The PLEX is quite explicit about dependencies.  You have only the base of the container dock, and not all of the required props from the CDK3 super pack.  You should not try to cherry pick stuff off SimPeg, but read the entire story.  Now, go back to SimPeg, and download the things you need.  It is all here.  Like it or not, everything you need is there and you need all of it.
 
This is the bottom of the download page for the container port.
 


All those dependencies are links to the appropriate pages.

  Edited June 11, 2013 by A Nonny Moose  

[dekiscool 6]

Thanks so much. I think I dl'ed everything and it seems to work now. But my biggest issue now is getting the shores just right to plop these seaports. They seem to be VERY fickle about where they will go. Very irritating. I wish there was a "Seaport For Dummies" where it gives STEP BY STEP instructions on how to do these. I can get it sometimes...but not everytime. It seemed easier with the default seaports vs the PEG ones.

[Ltw 401]

Thanks so much. I think I dl'ed everything and it seems to work now. But my biggest issue now is getting the shores just right to plop these seaports. They seem to be VERY fickle about where they will go. Very irritating. I wish there was a "Seaport For Dummies" where it gives STEP BY STEP instructions on how to do these. I can get it sometimes...but not everytime. It seemed easier with the default seaports vs the PEG ones.

 

Your coastline probably needs some terraforming. The water should be deep enough for the ships and the land should be flat enough for the harbor itself. Good tools are the single street-tiles to flatten the area if needed (just place them on the right place next to each other) and the terraforming-tools in the God-mode. You can enter the God-mode with Shift, Ctrl and Alt pressed while pressing on the God-mode. 

[IljaS 54]

Thanks so much. I think I dl'ed everything and it seems to work now. But my biggest issue now is getting the shores just right to plop these seaports. They seem to be VERY fickle about where they will go. Very irritating. I wish there was a "Seaport For Dummies" where it gives STEP BY STEP instructions on how to do these. I can get it sometimes...but not everytime. It seemed easier with the default seaports vs the PEG ones.

This general CDK Tutorial might help you out: The Official CDK Tutorial, Part I - by Pegasus

Link to part II can be found from the same page.

 

Do some searches trough Simpeg forum and CJs. You will find plenty of examples how to use these lots. If it gets too rough then ask again either in here or over at Simpeg 4. Happy hunting.

[dekiscool 6]

Your coastline probably needs some terraforming. The water should be deep enough for the ships and the land should be flat enough for the harbor itself. Good tools are the single street-tiles to flatten the area if needed (just place them on the right place next to each other) and the terraforming-tools in the God-mode. You can enter the God-mode with Shift, Ctrl and Alt pressed while pressing on the God-mode. 

 

 

Thanks for reminding me how to get into God-Mode. However, I believe I make the water deep enough. The land is flat too...I use the grid to make sure it is. Oddly, I made a wide area to plop 2 sea ports. I placed the port with three cranes down in the left corner and then tried to place the port with 2 cranes down, but it wouldn't turn blue to plop. So I deleted the port with 3 cranes and replaced it with the port with 2 cranes...then brought up the port with 3 cranes...and it would plop! I don't know why.

 

@Reform...Thanks I will check out the tutorials...

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

When you use the PEG seaports you do have to become adroit at using the civil engineering tools to level, fill, and carve out the coast line.  Just remember that as 'god' you can do anything to the land you like.  Can be expensive, so don't forget to give yourself lots of moolah.

[AcronShinra 60]

@dekiscool

Sometimes when you plop a lot on shoreline being almost on water level, it can level few tiles exactly with water height. Even if such tile looks like a terrain game treats it as it was water. Remedy: use small sized terrain level brush and start from buildable tile. To easily check if you can build on terrain - try to zone a road, if it's not red - then you are free to go.