You'll need to over type the name "Player Profile" with whatever you want your skipper to be called before you start your career, otherwise that's what he'll be called. You can have multiple skippers running without any problems.
I'm not sure what you mean about "fade-outs" of ships and convoys. Do you mean that you see ships from the bridge and can just sail right through them? Or do you mean that on the map you see a marker that says a ship or convoy is at such and such a position and when you get there they are nowhere to be seen?
If it is the former, I'm not sure I can help as it sounds like the Flying Dutchman has visited your PC.
If it is the latter, what you are seeing is a report of a ship or convoy appear on your map remembering that this only exists at a certain point in time. They move and what you need to do is work out direction and speed and then plot a course that will intercept them in the future, i.e.; where they are moving to.
Over time the report will fade as it is no longer current. I think it takes around 24 hours game time for this to happen but it is probably configurable somewhere.
Check out the wiki and look up plotting intercept courses to find out how to get accurate plots for intercepting them.
http://www.communitymanuals.com/shii...itle=Main_Page. You can also try using the noob guide thread at
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=96026
Hope this helps and good hunting!
