Request Advice- Starting Port

[Maligner]

Just as the title says, I would love advice in this thread for what port to start out with and why.

I know there are perks to ports, and I can check those when I click on them before deciding. However, the ramifications of the chosen port may not all be clear. For one, do all purchased ships appear in your home port? Can you change your home port at a later time, or are stuck with the same perk the entire game?

More information with suggestions would be appreciated!

[SilentWolf]

Generally, it's best to chose your first home port as a port that can support the largest vessels. For example, Rotterdam, Valencia, the Italian port (I'm out of game right now, so I don't know it off the top of my head), the Turkish port, Felixstowe, and Port Said are best to start off with. I personally prefer Rotterdam, but the choice is yours.

Yes, all of your purchased ships will go to your home port. However, when you start buying more ports, different ships are available at different ports.

You can change your home ports in the game, yes.

[Maligner]

Originally posted by SilentWolf:

Generally, it's best to chose your first home port as a port that can support the largest vessels.

This was a specific question I had in mind but did not post to start out, so thank you for reading my mind! And, choosing the starting port being one of the first things you do, I thought it important to ask for more info on this choice. Thank you!

[Vanguard(Aqua)]

how exactly do you change your HQ all i can do is setup subsidarys

[SilentWolf]

To be honest, I'm not sure about the HQ. Sorry

[ptmadman12]

Not got that far personally but doesn't a subsidary act like a HQ would anyway other than not receiving the possible global advantages? All you can really do at a HQ outside of those advantages is buy ships as far as I know so far.

Plus, after having looked at all the starter ports and played abit Lisbon to me is a good shout. -5% on fuel costs is a rather big bonus plus you can build up to Panamex class ships by which point your more or less on your way money wise to be able to pick up a subsidary port in the near future.

[Merlin]

Felixstowe or Rotterdam are quite good starting points as they are both large ports plus they are midway points on the Europe map so can come in handy as a refuel point.

[IronBear69]

I recomend Lisbon. You are able to get big enough ships for beggining until yo buy subsidiary.
Also harbour is easier to navigate yourself - Felixstowe is a pain in the arse to get out of manually. The money comes in fairly quickly and easily once you have done 2hrs plus in game.

[Vanguard(Aqua)]

just be mindful that not all ships(of the same class) turn as well as the starter,i have a 1100 teu feeder that i swear the rudders broken on yet my 8k panamax turns on a dime

[ScruffyBamboo]

I started in Reykyavik. Smallest port. Most advantages. :)

The biggest one is 20% off tug fees. I'm at late game, and I ALWAYS use the tugs at this point. If I'd tried to manually dock everything, the game would be way too long (and frankly it would get boring. I save manual docking for "special occasions" lol). So that means this one perk has saved me multiple millions at this point.

Besides, expanding to bigger ports as you need bigger ships is not a big problem, and something you need to do to get your rank up anyway. By the time you need to expand to a level 4 or 5 port (to get the new-panamax and up), the money to do so will be a drop in the bucket.

[ptmadman12]

@aquaswede Lol, I've managed pretty well with the feeders but took a while to get used to the panamex ships. Had a few rear end bumps and scrapes as I turned a little too much as you would be required to in the feeder to get that thing turned round.

@ScruffyBamboo Having thought about it you look to be onto something there, 20% on tug fees is even bigger saving than Lisbon fuel saving but on a first campaign run I would still go for Lisbon. Beyond that, Reykyavik all the way as you would of learnt what you need to know to keep up if not be ahead of the game.

[Señor Kerman]

I choose Felixstowe, because it is large enough for any ship and it was Moe over Rotterdam. I think I might try Lisbon when I start a new game, because as mentioned, it is easy to get in and out. Further, for any newbies starting with this thread, you'll purchase subsidaries elsewhere with larger ports.

[Cado]

Reykjavik. Cheaper tugs saves you a lot of money since after a short while you will just stop docking manually altogether.

[mhumenny]

The larger ports give you access to larger ships, the smaller ports give more starting bonuses.

When playing campagn and hard I choose Felistowe or Rotterdam, this is because it costs 50 million to get another large port and that kind of money is hard to come by early in the game. Alternitively if I don't care about who long it takes to get large ports, ports in hard difficulty do not always have ships available to buy.

Otherwise a popular port of mine to start with is Hamburg. 24% less time in ports for maintanance really adds up.

Other port have other advantages that you might really like, however they are all viable.