MarineTraffic is a maritime analytics provider,[1] which provides real-time information on the movements of ships and the current location of ships in harbors and ports.[2] A database of information on the vessels includes for example details of the location where they were built plus dimensions of the vessels, gross tonnage and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number. Users can submit photographs of the vessels which other users can rate.
 | |
Type of site | Ship tracking intelligence |
|---|---|
| Available in | English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, German, French, Greek, Chinese, Norwegian, Dutch and Portuguese |
| Headquarters | Athens, Greece |
| URL | www |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
| Users | 2,000,000 |
| Launched | 2007 |
| Current status | Open |
The basic MarineTraffic service can be used without cost; more advanced functions such as satellite-based tracking are available subject to payment.[3]
The site has six million unique visitors on a monthly basis. In April 2015, the service had 600,000 registered users.[4][5]
How it works
editData is gathered from in excess of 18,000 AIS equipped volunteer contributors in over 140 countries around the world.[6] Information provided by AIS equipment, such as unique identification, position, course, and speed, is then transferred to the main Marine Traffic servers for display via the website in real time. The site uses data from OpenStreetMap on its base map, and the paid version lets users display ship locations on Nautical Charts.
History
editMarineTraffic was originally developed as an academic project at the University of the Aegean in Ermoupoli, Greece.[7][8]
In late 2007, Professor Dimitris Lekkas published it as a trial version.[4]
Community
editMarineTraffic is highly dependent on its community of radio amateurs or AIS Station operators, its photographers and translators.
In support of the community, MarineTraffic recently made available a free AIS processing tool, under a Creative Commons license.[9]
Acquisition
editIn February 2023, data and analytics firm Kpler announced the acquisition of MarineTraffic and Fleetmon for an undisclosed sum.[10] The acquisitions closed in March 2023.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Pal, Alasdair; Junayd, Mohamed (7 April 2022). "Maldives shelters sanctioned Russian billionaires' yachts". Reuters. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Top 3 Websites to Track Your Ship". MarineInsight. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Cautiously Optimistic on MarineTraffic Internet AIS – Sail Magazine". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Site gives landlubbers trove of information about ships". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ "MarineTraffic.com releases new notifications". All About Shipping. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ "Site gives landlubbers trove of information about ships". HamptonRoads. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Marine Traffic – AIS ship tracking". MARINE TRAFFIC. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ Dumiak, Michael (16 December 2010). "A continent, as drawn by ships". Wired UK. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ "The MarineTraffic AIS Toolbox is now released as Open Source Software". MarineTraffic.com. 20 June 2022.
- ^ Saul, Jonathan (15 February 2023). "Kpler deepens maritime focus with ship tracking company acquisitions". Reuters. Retrieved 4 August 2024.