diff --git a/ymsgui.py b/ymsgui.py
index dab32e7..cacb751 100755
--- a/ymsgui.py
+++ b/ymsgui.py
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ import configparser
 os.environ["NO_AT_BRIDGE"] = "1" # fix dbus warnings
 import gi
 gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0")
-from gi.repository import GLib, Gtk
+gi.require_version('Rsvg', '2.0')
+from gi.repository import GLib, Gtk, Rsvg
 
 from yms import database
 from yms import gtkutils
@@ -36,7 +37,8 @@ cfg = {
     'host': 'localhost',
     'db': 'yms',
     'user': 'yms',
-    'docpath': '/var/local/yms'
+    'docpath': '/var/local/yms',
+    'shapedir': 'webgui/shapes'
 }
 
 class Frontend():
@@ -70,7 +72,17 @@ class Frontend():
         db.cur.execute("SELECT vid, vesselname, model FROM vessel ORDER BY vid")
         for row in db.cur.fetchall():
             print(row)
-        #print(type(self.combo['vessel']))
+        print(type(self.combo['vessel']))
+
+        # load shape of vessel if available
+        handle = Rsvg.Handle()
+        self._svg = handle.new_from_file(os.path.join(sys.path[0], cfg['shapedir'], "elizabethan29.svg"))
+        #viewport = Rsvg.Rectangle()
+        #viewport.x = 0
+        #viewport.y = 0
+        #viewport.width = 320
+        #viewport.height = 240
+        #self._svg.render_document(ctx, viewport)
 
     def run(self):
         self.label['vessel'].set_text(self.vname)