distance calculation between two ports with PostgreSQL and Postgis

Question

I'm using PostgreSQL with PostGis and have shapes of all countries loaded.

How can I calculate the shortes sea route between two ports (without intersecting a country shape)

is there a 'standard solution'?

Answer 1

you could use graph theory so long as you have a set of sea-lane type way-points defined. these would be points along the ship travel lanes with maybe nautical miles between each one indicated. then use a min path algorithm to find the best travel lane.

of course inreal life this problem has many more variables than just distance i would think.