Hi,
Great questions! I'm happy to hear locations/ports is an appreciated functionality. I'll try to summarize the latest updates on this for you.
The main port database is provided by ShipTrax. We have expanded this to a locations database here on ShipSpotting.com. Our own locations database supports other locations than just ports.
As we're working on an AIS application for this site, we have the same ports included there as well. In parallell we're working on a system to expand and correct the port data.
The main problem is that we want everything to be extremely stable/reliable. This requires a verification system of all added ports. This is not yet in place. At the same time we don't want our own system to clash with updates on the main ports database we use, in case changes/additions or deletions occur there. The worst thing would be if things were changed so that the location of the photo is corrupted/bad in some way. This is what we're working hard to prevent, and the main reason it's not yet online.
The addition of spotting locations, such as ports, will probably be made by putting a pin on the map where the place is. We haven't decided yet if that's to be made in the (coming) AIS map, or in a separate spotting location application.
Regards,
Henrik