Marine Traffic is an online resource with which you can track in real time the location of all ships in the waters of the world. The image is transmitted using an AIS (Automatic Identification System) card. Each ship is equipped with AIS receivers that transmit the ship's coordinates to coastal tracking systems. Thanks to this, you can accurately see the movement of all ships. The interactive map itself is compiled thanks to online resources and mapping services.
In addition to the location of the ships, on this website you can always find all the necessary information on each specific ship. This is: call sign, MMSI, ship speed and other information. So, when you select a vessel, a window pops up in which the name and type of the vessel, status, course and even its draft are also displayed.
In addition, the resource offers maps that use satellite data. Although, often, such accuracy is not needed by ordinary users. Yes, sometimes the image is transmitted with a slight delay. However, in most cases the picture is shown in real time. And the delay can be neglected due to the relatively low speeds.
Operating principle of Marine Traffic
Nowadays, almost all ships, small and large, are equipped with an automatic identification system. With its help, you can determine the location of the vessel, which will protect a possible collision with it in open waters. But the maximum distance at which a particular ship can be tracked depends on the height of the antenna itself installed on the ship, as well as the one installed at the coastal receiving station. Often stations are capable of covering a range of about 40 nautical miles (about 75 km). In some cases, the radius can be 200 nautical miles. But this is only possible if the coastal antenna is located high on the mountain and has high power.
How to track a specific ship on the map?
If you know the name of the ship and want to find out its location, simply enter its name in the search box. This is the easiest way that will allow you to see the location of the vessel, as well as all the main information about it.
If you are sure that the ship has not yet left the port or could not have gone far, you can find the port you need on the map. To do this, just enter the port name in the same search box.
Why do you need to track ships?
Automatic tracking technology was originally intended to ensure that all ships at sea could navigate safely. After all, some radars that ships are equipped with, even in good weather, are not always able to see and warn about the approach of a small vessel. And this, in turn, is fraught with big troubles. However, today such systems also perform a second function - tracking commercial traffic. Why is this necessary? It's simple:
Transport companies can always track the movement of their ships.
The customer can control the movement of his cargo.
Government services monitor coastal zones using this resource.
In case of a shipwreck, this helps to find and rescue the crew.
