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QUICK START GUIDE

Interact with MarineTraffic, explore the available features and services and find answers to common questions about the AIS.

Getting Started

Register for free to create your personal MarineTraffic account and start enjoying the vast capabilities of the platform while setting your own preferences. The registration process is easy and will take you less than a minute.More
The Live Map is the key feature of MarineTraffic. View the real-time positions of all vessels and move around the globe with ease and efficiency to track them down. Use the established MarineTraffic icon-set to find information in no time.More
Use the Live Map Toolbar to further personalise the information on your screen. Search directly on the Live Map, choose from various Map Types (including Cartes Marines), apply Filters and Layers, display your Fleets or view Traffic Density Maps!More
Click on any vessel icon on the Live Map to bring out an InfoWindow with key details and Voyage Forecasts. Visit the Details page of any vessel to access even more information and a broad list of available options – all in one place.More
Visit the MarineTraffic advanced search pages and get personalised lists about the assets (vessels, ports, lights, photos etc) that interest you the most. Use the available options and filters to define your search criteria and narrow down the search results.More
Create your own Fleets to closely monitor your vessels of choice. Search for vessels in the MarineTraffic database or directly on the Live Map and, simply, add them to your Fleets. This way, you will always be up-to-date regarding their activity in no time!More
Use the MarineTraffic Notifications to be timely informed about various events regarding vessels, ports and areas of interest. Get all the latest data via email, Text (SMS) or Push Notifications!More
Download the MarineTraffic Mobile App to use MarineTraffic on the go. Take advantage of the rich features of the world's #1 vessel-tracking service which are also available on the mobile version! Sync it with your MarineTraffic account and be constantly in the loop!More
Purchase Online Services to power up your MarineTraffic account with more features and tools. Buy Crédits to further extend your limits!More
Corporate Accounts are designed for companies where multiple users need to have access to the MarineTraffic services. Create a Corporate Account to easily manage your colleagues' accounts and start enjoying the advantages and benefits of centralised administration.More
Advertise your company on the most popular maritime website in the world and actively reach your targeted audience! Build a strong presence for your company by also adding it to the MarineTraffic Annuaire des entreprises.Plus
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Common Questions

The AIS (Automatic Identification System) is an automated tracking system which is extensively used in the maritime world. Thanks to this system, vessels' information and positional data can be electronically exchanged between AIS stations.Plus
The AIS-transmitted information sent by vessels is being picked up by the MarineTraffic network of AIS-receiving stations. All incoming raw data (NMEA feeds) gets processed and decoded by our central database and is then made available in near real-time on the MarineTraffic website.More
It depends on various factors. Normally, a terrestrial AIS-receiving station using an external antenna placed 15 metres above sea level, will receive AIS information within a range of 15-20 nautical miles. Stations located at a higher altitude may greatly extend this range.More
Our system can be expanded to cover any coastal area of the world. You can participate in the MarineTraffic project with your own AIS-receiving station by covering your area and enjoying the benefits of becoming a data contributor to MarineTraffic.Plus
Vessels that sail in the open seas can also be tracked using Satellite-AIS. The combination of Satellite and Terrestrial AIS gives a unique presentation of the global maritime traffic and provides frequent updates of almost the entire global merchant fleet.More
As soon as fresher data about any vessel becomes available via the AIS! The Terrestrial AIS service provides near real-time updates of vessel positions at the areas covered. The Satellite AIS service provides position updates at intervals that may vary from a few minutes up to several hours.More
Once your signal is picked-up by any of our AIS-receiving stations, a record of your vessel will be created in our database. All you have to do is to install an AIS transponder on board in order to transmit AIS messages containing your vessel's positions and details!More
Even if you do not have an onboard AIS transponder, there are alternative ways to report your position to us. In any case, a record of your vessel will be created on our database and you will be able to get your boat displayed on the Live Map.More
This may be due to a variety of reasons (out of range, malfunctioning AIS transponder on board, busy areas, Class-B transponders etc). Note also that if there is no new information on a vessel's recent position for quite some time, this vessel is removed from the Live Map until we receive a new position.More
The correct configuration of the AIS transponders by the crew is very important and can significantly help in the correct presentation of the vessels' information! The system is heavily based on the information received from the vessels, as it is transmitted by their AIS transponders.More
The main intention of the system is to provide Internet users with information and should, by no means, be related to the safety of navigation or used as a safety tool. However, there are many cases where making your position widely known could enhance your safety at sea.More
L'Assistant de MarineTraffic