Shipping Resources

What are the mostly used ship tracking services and websites in the world?

Name Terms Link Description
Ship Tracking
MarineTraffic Free "live map" for basic tracking information. Subscription necessary for more detail, inlcuding past route tracking. See Press Area: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/press-area https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:20.2/centery:37.2/zoom:7 MarineTracking says it is the largest publicly available vessel tracking service in the world.
Fleet Mon Basic access level free with registration, but charges for more sophisticated access. Will give special prices for the projects depending on the project and what type of data is needed. Provides a discount for research if FleetMon is mentioned as source. https://www.fleetmon.com Vessel position tracking, plus a global vessel and port database.
IHS AISLive Subscription. https://ihsmarkit.com/industry/maritime.html Sea-web offers 600+ data fields on 200,000+ ships of 100 GT and above, while AISLive provides terrestrial and satellite ship movement intelligence.
Vessel Tracker Free tracking of passenger ships. Other services by subscription. E-mail. info@vesseltracker.com http://www.vesseltracker.com/app Vesseltracker.com is a leading provider of global vessel movements and maritime information services. Site includes recent photos of ships.
exactEarth Shipview Subscription service. Discounts have been given to some nongovernmental organizations. Images provided for credit. https://shipview.exactearth.com/ Information near real-time. Focuses on a vessel’s behaviour. Good coverage of polar regions. Good analysis tools and automatic alerts.
Marine Vessel Tracker Free and subscription. https://www.marinevesseltraffic.com/ Multiple features include trackers for military vessels and ships hit by coronavirus.
Lloyds List Intelligence Seasearcher Subscriptions for site licenses. Will consider media discounts. Will contract to search data for specific information. https://maritimeintelligence.informa.com/products-and-services/lloyds-list-intelligence Unusual because of databases and information from Lloyds shipping agents. Detailed vessel information, includng about the "beneficial owners," the real owners behind shell subsidiaries. Can link to other vessels owned or managed by same company. Many searches possible.
Vessel Finder Free, but also paid services. https://www.vesselfinder.com/ VesselFinder provides information about current position of ships transmitted by AIS, their past track, technical specifications, port and ship photos, port calls, port traffic statistics, maritime news and other related information.
My Ship Tracking Free. Use "Contact us." https://www.myshiptracking.com/ Shows ship location, not path.
Ships at Sea Free http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/ Primarily uses data reported via the World Meteorological Organization's Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) program to provide a snapshot of current weather conditions at sea, worldwide. This data can also be used to track the progress of ships at sea. Many ships do not report their weather observations to WMO, or report only sporadically; so these ships will not be in database.
Windward https://www.wnwd.com Not a tracking service, rather this Israel-based firm analyzes big data, including shipping data, to help marine insurers and government agencies understand and reduce maritime risks. This includes figuring out when ships deliberately turn off their tracking signals.
ThompsonReutersEikon https://financial.thomsonreuters.com/en/products/tools-applications/trading-investment-tools/eikon-trading-software.html Database on shipping used by Reuters reporters who report on commodities and other subjects.
Ferry Go Go Free https://ferrygogo.com FerryGoGo: A website on which you can find all ferry routes & ferry guidance.
Ship Finder Free element has 12 hour delay. Subscriptions for real-time. http://www.shipfinder.com/ Chinese company based in Beijing.
Ceencoos Free https://www.cencoos.org/data/parameters/shiptracks While mostly concerned with environmental data, this site track ships along the northwest coast of the US. Run by the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS).
Equasis Free (Registration required) http://www.equasis.org/EquasisWeb/public/HomePage Provides safety related information on ships and companies. Run by EU countries.
Maersk Line Free https://www.maerskline.com/routes/track-shipments Tracking of Maersk ships.
Equasis Free http://www.equasis.org/EquasisWeb/public/HomePage?fs=HomePage Equasis provides safety related information on ships and companies
Tanker Trackers Subscription costs $99/month or $999/year. https://tankertrackers.com/ TankerTrackers.com is an independent online service that tracks and reports shipments of crude oil in several geographical and geopolitical points of interest.
Cruise Ships
Cruisin Free http://www.cruisin.me/cruise-ship-tracker/ Tracking cruise ships. Registration required. Also forums and news.
Cruise Mapper Free https://www.cruisemapper.com/ Tracker, including breakdown by by cruise line.
Ship Cruises Free https://www.shipcruises.org/ ShipCruises.org displays live maritime traffic tracking maps. Cruise Ports Maps and Locations Information. Cruise Lines Fleets monitoring in real-time. Ships’ Particulars and Itineraries as well as Cruise Offers. Use our Searching Tools to easily locate your favorite cruise ship by Vessel Name and IMO or MMSI Number Our Fleet Tracking Maps will show you world wide position of all ships of the same cruise line.
Cruise Hive Free https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-ship-tracker Tracker and cruise news.
Yachts (Use shipping trackers listed above to find yachts)
Following Sea Free https://followingsea.net/ Only shows boats that have registered.
Boat International Free https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/the-superyacht-directory Search yacht directory with over 12,000 megayachts listed. Affiliated with subscription-based "Boat Pro," https://www.boatinternational.com/boat-pro
Boat International Free https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/the-register/top-200-largest-yachts--25027 A guide to the 200 largest superyachts in the world.
SuperYachtFan Subscription ($150) https://www.superyachtfan.com/ Data on owners of largest 1,297 yachts. Also good links sections (free) See Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SuperYachtFan/
Superyacht.com Free https://www.superyachts.com/ Listings of yachts for sale.
Super Yacht Times Free https://www.superyachttimes.com/ Basic information about yachts. Extensive list of yachts owned by sancioned Russian oligarchs. Links to articles in Super Yacht Times that mention the yacht.
Yacht Harbor Free search, but more with subscription https://yachtharbour.com/yachts Informationon 5,980 yachts.
Yachtspotter.com Free https://www.yachtspotter.com/ Twitter posts by members of this "community of yacht enthusiasts." Seems to be moribund as of 2021.
Related Sources
International Maritime Organization, Global Integrated Shipping Information System Free, but registration required. https://gisis.imo.org/Public/Default.aspx This searchable research tool, from the International Maritime Organization, has information about ship registration, ports, maritime security, pollution incidents and piracy.
World Shipping Register Free and by subscription, 1 euro per day http://eships.net/ 100,000 listings. Good search options, such as types of ships by country.
Piracy & Armed Robbery Map from the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre Free https://www.icc-ccs.org/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-map This live map shows all piracy and armed robbery incidents reported to IMB Piracy Reporting Centre during 2022.
Maritime Database.com Free http://www.maritime-database.com A database of ports, with facts, maps and satellite views. A project of Marinet Ltd. Basd in Greece.
OpenSeaMap Free, registration required http://www.openseamap.org/index.php?id=openseamap&L=1 Mainly ocean maps, but much more.
Maritime Monster Free https://maritime.monster/maritime-connector/ Site advertising Jobs in maritime industry.
Fishing
Global Fishing Watch Free http://globalfishingwatch.org/ Map tracks of commercial fishing vessels in near real-time. It currently does not include "reefer ships," refrigerated ships. Historical data dating to 2012. Datasets uploadable.
Skylight Global Free http://www.skylight.global/ Focused on illegal fishing using satellite images, AI, etc. Developed by by Paul G. Allen and Vulcan Inc.
EU Fleet Register Free. http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/fleet/index.cfm?method=Search.SearchSimple&country= Details of EU fishing fleets. Including gear used.
FAO Fishing Vessel Finder Free from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.fao.org/figis/vrmf/finder/search/#stats Compiled information from national fleet registers and regional fisheries management organizations.
Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal Free. http://portal.midatlanticocean.org/ An online toolkit and resource center that consolidates available data and enables state, federal and local users to visualize and analyze ocean resources and human use information such as fishing grounds, recreational areas, shipping lanes, habitat areas, and energy sites, among others.
Regional fisheries management organisations Free from European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/international/rfmo/ Keep vessel lists and details of fishing authorizations.
Container Tracking
Track Trace Free. For-pay services provide tools for more efficient/convenient tracking. http://www.track-trace.com/container Tracks major shippers, postal parcels for 124 countries, containers with 118 companies and air cargo with 177 airlines.
ShippingLink Free https://www.shipmentlink.com/ Track shippping containers, air cargo and more, such as sailing schedules
Seacargotracking.net Free http://www.seacargotracking.net/ Track shippping containers, air cargo and more. Public and free, but you need to know the Shipping Line and a Container Number (or sometimes a BL-Number).
Graphic
Ship Map Free https://www.shipmap.org Graphic map using 2012 data. Just fun.
WATCH: Shipping Around The World In 1:40 Free https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/02/21/388025656/watch-global-shipping-around-the-world-in-1-40 The 2015 video by Fleetomon shows satellite tracking of routes superimposed over Google Earth

Ship Tracking

MarineTraffic

Terms

Free "live map" for basic tracking information. Subscription necessary for more detail, inlcuding past route tracking. See Press Area: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/press-area

Description

MarineTracking says it is the largest publicly available vessel tracking service in the world.

Fleet Mon

Terms

Basic access level free with registration, but charges for more sophisticated access. Will give special prices for the projects depending on the project and what type of data is needed. Provides a discount for research if FleetMon is mentioned as source.

Description

Vessel position tracking, plus a global vessel and port database.

IHS AISLive

Terms

Subscription.

Description

Sea-web offers 600+ data fields on 200,000+ ships of 100 GT and above, while AISLive provides terrestrial and satellite ship movement intelligence.

Vessel Tracker

Terms

Free tracking of passenger ships. Other services by subscription. E-mail. info@vesseltracker.com

Description

Vesseltracker.com is a leading provider of global vessel movements and maritime information services. Site includes recent photos of ships.

exactEarth Shipview

Terms

Subscription service. Discounts have been given to some nongovernmental organizations. Images provided for credit.

Description

Information near real-time. Focuses on a vessel’s behaviour. Good coverage of polar regions. Good analysis tools and automatic alerts.

Marine Vessel Tracker

Terms

Free and subscription.

Description

Multiple features include trackers for military vessels and ships hit by coronavirus.

Lloyds List Intelligence Seasearcher

Terms

Subscriptions for site licenses. Will consider media discounts. Will contract to search data for specific information.

Description

Unusual because of databases and information from Lloyds shipping agents. Detailed vessel information, includng about the "beneficial owners," the real owners behind shell subsidiaries. Can link to other vessels owned or managed by same company. Many searches possible.

Vessel Finder

Terms

Free, but also paid services.

Description

VesselFinder provides information about current position of ships transmitted by AIS, their past track, technical specifications, port and ship photos, port calls, port traffic statistics, maritime news and other related information.

My Ship Tracking

Terms

Free. Use "Contact us."

Description

Shows ship location, not path.

Ships at Sea

Terms

Free

Description

Primarily uses data reported via the World Meteorological Organization's Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) program to provide a snapshot of current weather conditions at sea, worldwide. This data can also be used to track the progress of ships at sea. Many ships do not report their weather observations to WMO, or report only sporadically; so these ships will not be in database.

Windward

Terms

Description

Not a tracking service, rather this Israel-based firm analyzes big data, including shipping data, to help marine insurers and government agencies understand and reduce maritime risks. This includes figuring out when ships deliberately turn off their tracking signals.

ThompsonReutersEikon

Terms

Description

Database on shipping used by Reuters reporters who report on commodities and other subjects.

Ferry Go Go

Terms

Free

Description

FerryGoGo: A website on which you can find all ferry routes & ferry guidance.

Ship Finder

Terms

Free element has 12 hour delay. Subscriptions for real-time.

Description

Chinese company based in Beijing.

Ceencoos

Terms

Free

Description

While mostly concerned with environmental data, this site track ships along the northwest coast of the US. Run by the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS).

Equasis

Terms

Free (Registration required)

Description

Provides safety related information on ships and companies. Run by EU countries.

Maersk Line

Terms

Free

Description

Tracking of Maersk ships.

Equasis

Terms

Free

Description

Equasis provides safety related information on ships and companies

Tanker Trackers

Terms

Subscription costs $99/month or $999/year.

Description

TankerTrackers.com is an independent online service that tracks and reports shipments of crude oil in several geographical and geopolitical points of interest.

Cruise Ships

Cruisin

Terms

Free

Description

Tracking cruise ships. Registration required. Also forums and news.

Cruise Mapper

Terms

Free

Description

Tracker, including breakdown by by cruise line.

Ship Cruises

Terms

Free

Description

ShipCruises.org displays live maritime traffic tracking maps. Cruise Ports Maps and Locations Information. Cruise Lines Fleets monitoring in real-time. Ships’ Particulars and Itineraries as well as Cruise Offers. Use our Searching Tools to easily locate your favorite cruise ship by Vessel Name and IMO or MMSI Number Our Fleet Tracking Maps will show you world wide position of all ships of the same cruise line.

Cruise Hive

Terms

Free

Description

Tracker and cruise news.

Yachts
(Use shipping trackers listed above to find yachts)

Following Sea

Terms

Free

Description

Only shows boats that have registered.

Boat International

Terms

Free

Description

Search yacht directory with over 12,000 megayachts listed. Affiliated with subscription-based "Boat Pro," https://www.boatinternational.com/boat-pro

Boat International

Terms

Free

Description

A guide to the 200 largest superyachts in the world.

SuperYachtFan

Terms

Subscription ($150)

Description

Data on owners of largest 1,297 yachts. Also good links sections (free) See Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SuperYachtFan/

Superyacht.com

Terms

Free

Description

Listings of yachts for sale.

Super Yacht Times

Terms

Free

Description

Basic information about yachts. Extensive list of yachts owned by sancioned Russian oligarchs. Links to articles in Super Yacht Times that mention the yacht.

Yacht Harbor

Terms

Free search, but more with subscription

Description

Informationon 5,980 yachts.

Yachtspotter.com

Terms

Free

Description

Twitter posts by members of this "community of yacht enthusiasts." Seems to be moribund as of 2021.

Related Sources

International Maritime Organization, Global Integrated Shipping Information System

Terms

Free, but registration required.

Description

This searchable research tool, from the International Maritime Organization, has information about ship registration, ports, maritime security, pollution incidents and piracy.

World Shipping Register

Terms

Free and by subscription, 1 euro per day

Description

100,000 listings. Good search options, such as types of ships by country.

Piracy & Armed Robbery Map from the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre

Terms

Free

Description

This live map shows all piracy and armed robbery incidents reported to IMB Piracy Reporting Centre during 2022.

Maritime Database.com

Terms

Free

Description

A database of ports, with facts, maps and satellite views. A project of Marinet Ltd. Basd in Greece.

OpenSeaMap

Terms

Free, registration required

Description

Mainly ocean maps, but much more.

Maritime Monster

Terms

Free

Description

Site advertising Jobs in maritime industry.

Fishing

Global Fishing Watch

Terms

Free

Description

Map tracks of commercial fishing vessels in near real-time. It currently does not include "reefer ships," refrigerated ships. Historical data dating to 2012. Datasets uploadable.

Skylight Global

Terms

Free

Description

Focused on illegal fishing using satellite images, AI, etc. Developed by by Paul G. Allen and Vulcan Inc.

EU Fleet Register

Terms

Free.

Description

Details of EU fishing fleets. Including gear used.

FAO Fishing Vessel Finder

Terms

Free from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Description

Compiled information from national fleet registers and regional fisheries management organizations.

Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal

Terms

Free.

Description

An online toolkit and resource center that consolidates available data and enables state, federal and local users to visualize and analyze ocean resources and human use information such as fishing grounds, recreational areas, shipping lanes, habitat areas, and energy sites, among others.

Regional fisheries management organisations

Terms

Free from European Commission.

Description

Keep vessel lists and details of fishing authorizations.

Container Tracking

Track Trace

Terms

Free. For-pay services provide tools for more efficient/convenient tracking.

Description

Tracks major shippers, postal parcels for 124 countries, containers with 118 companies and air cargo with 177 airlines.

ShippingLink

Terms

Free

Description

Track shippping containers, air cargo and more, such as sailing schedules

Seacargotracking.net

Terms

Free

Description

Track shippping containers, air cargo and more. Public and free, but you need to know the Shipping Line and a Container Number (or sometimes a BL-Number).

Graphic

Ship Map

Terms

Free

Description

Graphic map using 2012 data. Just fun.

WATCH: Shipping Around The World In 1:40

Terms

Free

Description

The 2015 video by Fleetomon shows satellite tracking of routes superimposed over Google Earth