Hi there.
Recently I bought the ShipSim2008, and I like this game. Being a merchant sailor I am impressed with the realism. But the game lacks winches and capstans on the ships. In real life it would be almost impossible to come alongside with a large ship without them. With smaller boats and even coasters you can do with a spring-line and the engine dead slow ahead, but believe me... You wouldn't try to do that with the Vermaas - unless you have plenty of spare lines and a good insurance.
When moored with a spring-line only, the ships doesn't react realistically either. If in real life you connect a spring-line and go slow ahead, your stern would slowly turn out. In the game, however, nothing happens.
I consider these berthing problems to be a serious drawback to the game itself.
But apart from that it is just great!