Thank you for the save file. It helped pinpoint a save-load data problem with AIBalls in the engine that caused the crash. I have fixed that and just uploaded to Itch. Get the latest update and you should be able to load that save-game.
Diego does not start with the Dutchman, but I did a code search for that ship type and I suspect you inadvertently pressed F4. That key runs a function in the console.c script that assigns the main character the Dutchman ship:
pchar.Ship.Type = GenerateShip(SHIP_CURSEDDUTCHMAN, 0);
I presume that code was there for someone's testing.
Which brings me to the last part about addressing the other issues. GOF 2.0 was not developed by me and was before my time of ever encountering this game. So I did not make the decisions about the ship/health display bars, the compass, etc. I merely rewrote substantial parts of the engine that were either broken or could use some enhancement, such as upgrading from DX8 to DX9, memory allocation efficiency, etc. Then, I made all the mod versions for POTC, CT, COAS and GOF work with that same engine. Therefore, GOF 1.2, 2.0 and 2.5 all exist just as they did when I downloaded them, except the changes needed to work with some of the new message features. I will try to fix stuff that is clearly broken, but I will not change the compass, texture files, etc. because I figure if people are playing GOF 2.0, or COAS, or ??? they will want to see it the way it was put together by the original mod teams, just as they were.
The only game I am currently involved with ongoing development, where we will change things if given enough feedback, is ERAS.
I will add, that contrary to the "numbering scheme" of GOF, the versions 2.0 and 2.5 although "later" than 1.2, are inferior (in my opinion) to 1.2. What they did with 2.0 and 2.5, was to actually remove much of the better mod pieces from GOF 1.2; they removed characters, ships, items, and much of the improved ship AI logic in the scripts. In other words, they are a stripped down, and most likely incomplete because based on what I read on the forums, they never reached fruition, the people working on 2.0 and 2.5 disbanded and/or dwindled, and as such, are likely why some things like item names are missing.