Hi doozis, welcome to the forum!
If you have patch 1.4b installed (if not, install it!

) you can use the navigation map (F5) to navigate out of port. Zoom in, then you can see the port structures, you can also set waypoints if it´s easier for you. Another thing you can do is to install Powerstrip:
http://www.entechtaiwan.com/ps.htm
With PS you can define hotkeys to change the Gamma correction (it´s basically the brightness level) while playing.
Regarding the ghost ships... What´s the distance to those ships? Maybe they were just radio contacts? Or did you get a "ship sighted" message, the ship appears on the map, but you cannot see it?