Why don't we take what siitech.com (etc) has done, port the data to "Second Life," have ship avatars derived from their ISO registrations and clickable DSC links on the Avatars.
This would allow Port officers and the Coast Guard among others to have real time, God's eye views of the traffic situation. Radar overlays could reveal unreported traffic.
In Second Life, observers could place themselves on the ship avatars for a bridge (or bow, stern, etc) view of the traffic situation.
Could also be very useful in accident reconstruction as well.
I don't have a business relationship with any of these providers. It does seem that this could provide a useful capability at a fraction of what government programs usually cost.