There is a huge amount of information on how to find a ship at sea, but in fact, everything is much simpler than it seems. You just need to follow the instructions of one or another site. As you know, many sailors cannot contact you on board the ship, so you should immediately clarify the call sign, in fact, the region, as well as the name of the ship. This can be found out from the company that uses the vessel, as well as from the crew members. But if you do not have such information in full, do not be discouraged, there are other ways to find a ship at sea.
Ways to search for a vessel
Let's take a closer look at the options for finding a ship.
- You can go to the following shipping sites: http://marinetraffic.com/ais and http://gisexpert.ru. Each of them contains a program for free download; you will need to install it on your computer, after which you will be able to see the vessel you are interested in in real time.
- Understanding how to find a vessel by name and other criteria, you need to refer to the resources of the site: http://www.marinetraffic.com:
- Vessels tab. Here is a list of all ships according to various characteristics, such as name, course, speed, direction, current port, etc. You need to sort the column with names and find the name you are interested in.
- On the left side of the window, enter the name of the vessel and select its type, for example, passenger or fishing, then click “Search”.
- Ports tab. Here you enter the point of arrival or departure, after which you will see the location and name of the vessel.
- "Map" tab. On the left, select the display function - check the “Show vessel names” box. After that, click on the map on the areas known to you where the ship could pass, then the direction and movement of a particular ship will be displayed on the map.
- Online service http://aprs.fi/info/. For those who are not sure of the accuracy of the ship's name. You need to enter the first letters, and replace the letters you don’t know with asterisks and click “Search”. After which, several ships with similar names may appear, and you just have to choose. Therefore, it is also important to know the approximate route of the vessel, so as not to make a mistake when choosing.
- Website http://vesseltracker.com. First, register, after which you will be able to use your account, both free and paid. The differences are that in the first case, you receive information about the route and photographs of the vessel from the berths with a delay of several hours. The second option involves paying from 66.58 – 181.25 euros per month, but at the same time you will receive information in real time. In the “Ships” and “Ports” sections you can enter the information you have, then the “Map”, “Expected” and “Departed” items will open, viewing each of them, you will receive the necessary location information.
- Let's look at how to find a ship via satellite. There is a great program for this, Google earth, which is surprisingly quite easy to use. As you know, GPS sensors are located on ships weighing over 299 tons and transmit accurate data about their location. But this program works with a delay of exactly one hour. In it you need to enter the region and call sign, after which a photograph of the ship and information will appear on the map, ranging from the route to the situation at sea.
Based on data from AIS. All vessel positions, departure from the port and arrival at the destination port in real time. Attention! The positions of the vessels may sometimes not correspond to the real ones and may lag behind by an hour or more. All coordinates of vessel positions are presented for informational purposes only.
Search data from AIS cannot be used for routing. When searching, you will find accurate information about the movements of ships on the map using AIS data and can view their photographs. In order to find a ship, select a sector on the map where the number of ships currently located there is indicated.
We click with the mouse, for example, on the region of Europe and get the picture that you see below. If you zoom in on the area, you will see specific vessels. The map receives updates every few seconds.
When you hover your cursor over a ship, you can see its name; on the site you can get other information you are interested in for searching. To find the ship you are interested in, enter the name of the ship and, if possible, its location in the search bar and press the search key. The AIS map will show the vessel's position in real time.
What is AIS?
To reduce the risk of ship collisions, AIS - Automatic Identification System was developed in 2000. Its functionality turned out to be so successful that just two years later, the International Maritime Organization demanded the mandatory installation of AIS terminals on all cargo ships with a displacement of more than 500 registered tons, on “trucks” over 300 tons, making international flights, and to all ships for passenger transportation regardless of tonnage.
Unlike radars, which can detect the appearance of large floating objects near the ship and approximately estimate their current direction and speed of movement, AIS allows you to obtain much more detailed and accurate information about the navigation situation.
To better understand the capabilities of the new system, let’s first understand how it works.
The ship's AIS module is a digital VHF transceiver interfaced with ships' navigation systems. Depending on the speed of the vessel, every 2–10 seconds (every 3 minutes when stationary), it automatically transmits the following operational information: MMSI identification number, navigation status (“at anchor”, “underway”, etc.). ), current coordinates, true course and speed, angular rate of turn and exact time stamp.
In addition to dynamic data, static data is transmitted every 6 minutes: the IMO vessel identification number, its type, name, radio call sign, dimensions, type of positioning system (GPS, GLONASS, LORAN) and even the position of its antenna relative to the bow of the vessel. Route information is transmitted at the same frequency: destination with estimated time of arrival, draft, cargo category and number of people on board. In addition, in the event of a threat to the safety of the vessel, it is allowed to send text messages entered manually from it.
The received information can be displayed on the terminal in the form of a table with information about nearby vessels, as well as in the form of their symbols superimposed on navigation maps (for example, in a chartplotter) - of course, in this case it is much easier to assess the relative position and dynamics of movement.
In short, according to AIS messages, the captain can absolutely accurately assess the current navigation situation. By the way, radio traffic in the system is carried out in the range of 162 MHz, that is, at a much lower frequency compared to radar radiation. Longer radio waves are able to avoid obstacles such as large ships and low islands, and therefore the range of AIS is pleasantly impressive. Under favorable conditions, it can exceed 40 miles, but keep in mind that the height of the antenna here, as with other airborne transmitters, plays a decisive role.
For yachtsmen, at least those whose vessels do not appear in the Forbes magazine charts, the subtlety of using the system lies in the fact that only simplified version terminals, designated “Class B”, are allowed to be installed on ships with a displacement of less than 300 tons.
They feature a noticeably reduced transmitter power (2 W versus 12.5 W), which limits their transmission range to approximately five miles. Another nuisance is a simplified data transmission algorithm that allows you to send information only if there is free space on the air during the radio exchange of older brothers equipped with class A terminals. The trick here is that at any given time on any of the two AIS channels It is possible to transmit one single block of digital data, and Class A devices are able to agree with each other in advance about the order in which they are issued.
However, you must agree: despite such discrimination, being in a rough sea at night, it is very pleasant to know that on a supertanker passing nearby, the watchman probably knows about the presence of your 45-foot yacht at his side.
There is another way to use AIS, and it involves installing a receiver that does not allow sending any data at all, but is capable of tracking the movements of all ships equipped with full-fledged terminals. By and large, you don't even need a separate device for this, since manufacturers like Icom and Standard Horizon have begun to equip high-end models of mounted VHF radios with this function.
Convenient, compact, not expensive, but there is one big “but” - it’s problematic to place even a text table on a small low-resolution screen, let alone build even the most primitive semblance of a map...
That is why AIS receivers were developed that do not display graphic information at all, but are able to convert data into packets of the standard NMEA protocol, which is understood by the vast majority of chartplotters. Plus, some of them can connect to computers via USB, or even transfer data via Wi-Fi to mobile gadgets running Android or iOS. Similar devices are produced, for example, by Weather Dock.
By the way, when installing AIS equipment, even an additional antenna is not absolutely necessary due to operation in the same frequency range with the on-board radio. However, keep in mind that splitters used to connect two different devices to an antenna tend to reduce the signal level slightly, and if there is a problem with a single antenna, you will lose two security systems at once.
It would be naive to believe that such an advanced information exchange system was created solely to assist helmsmen in operational maneuvering. AIS also includes global monitoring of vessel movements for the benefit of a variety of shipping companies, traffic control centers, and government agencies that may require information about the location of certain vessels or cargo. For this reason, AIS equipment can be based not only on ships, but also on coastal stations, many of which are connected to a global network.
Well, in order to more effectively use the system for searching and rescuing sailors in emergency situations, emergency buoys are being issued that are capable of transmitting AIS information with increased priority. There are also so-called virtual buoys - this is the only type of device in the system, whose real location may not coincide with the coordinates in their messages. As a rule, these are transmitters installed on the shore, warning passing ships of dangers such as poorly visible rocks or capes devoid of lighthouses jutting far out to sea.
It must be said that AIS receivers are even located on satellites. It is only on the surface of the Earth that the radius of propagation of its signal is limited by visibility to the horizon, but in space it can be received from hundreds of kilometers without any problems. Today, more than a dozen spacecraft are orbiting the planet, monitoring maritime traffic.
It’s especially nice that you can get to data on the global movement of ships without being the owner of a shipping company or a secret service agent. Information is available on a paid basis (for example, in the full version Google Earth), however, in a somewhat truncated form, it can be seen for free, for example, on the resource www.marinetraffic.com, whose interactive maps and user-friendly interface are replicated on many other sites on nautical topics.
There are services that provide information about ships online in real time on a map. These services are an indispensable tool for the charterer, because he must know the approximate time of arrival of the vessel at the designated port for loading or unloading. Some agreements indicate that the delivery of cargo must be carried out within a certain period of time and the ship does not have the right to enter ports for its own needs and take on associated cargo. It follows from this that if the ship deviates from the course, the contract can be terminated.
MarineTraffic is an online service for tracking the route of ships
The site provides information about the location of ships online. This is a world map with ship icons of different colors. Each color represents the type, speed, control method and other information.
There are icons and icons around the map for management and configuration. On the left side of the menu there are buttons for setting up the map, such as: layers, filter, traffic density maps, weather and others. Here you can find a ship by name by entering information in a special field. When you click on one of the ships on the map, information appears in a window about:
- Name of the ship.
- The speed at which the ship travels.
- Well. From where and where to go.
- Status.
- Type of ship (passenger, tanker, etc.)
When you click on the name of the ship already in the window that opens, a more complete page opens with detailed information about the ship in real time.
How to find a ship by name online on MarineTraffic
If you have some information about the ship you are interested in, then finding it will be easy. Necessary:
- Go to the website - https://www.marinetraffic.com/ru/.
- In the top right window called "Vessel/Port" enter your information.
- In the window that appears, you need to click on the name of the vessel or port for detailed information.
Having visited the site, you will notice that the information is provided on English language. It can be changed by going to the bottom of the page and clicking on the “Language” item. Select Russian from the drop-down menu.
The online ship map is updated in real time, but you need to know that ship traffic on the ocean is relatively small. The reason for the ship's freezing may also be related to the system itself, because it is not perfect and has shortcomings. Although it is improved from time to time, there are still areas of the ocean where the signal disappears. In this case, you must wait until the signal appears to continue tracking the vessel.
How the AIS system works
Today, to ensure security, all ships have an AIS identification system on board. It reports the location of a particular vessel in the ocean and prevents a collision. The distance a ship can move away from a ground receiver is almost 400 km. The ground reception system must be located above sea level, and the ship system must have a powerful signal and a high-quality antenna. In this case, visitors can use the services of the service.
Seatracker.ru – providing information about the location of ships online
Seatracker is a portal for seafarers that provides news and various files, mainly on marine topics.
By clicking the link in the top menu “Ais” we get to political map world, which also contains icons of ships, painted in different colors, depending on the type and purpose. The map menu on the service is a simplified version relative to the MarineTraffic service. Here, on the left side of the menu there are only 3 buttons - search, filter and layers. On the right there are 2 buttons that control the reduction or enlargement of the mini map. Above the map there is a search window for a ship or port by name.
Color codes for ships on the map of online services
Online ocean maps have the same color codes for the two listed services.
How to use the real-time ship chart on Seatracker
- On the website https://seatracker.ru/ follow the link at the top “Ais”.
- On the map page you can use the search and enter the name of the vessel.
- For convenience, on the left side of the menu there is a “Filter” button, using it you can select a vessel by color.
- Here, in the menu on the left there is an icon with layers, by selecting which you can add or remove ports, station names, beacons and images to the map.
All information that is on the site comes from AIS data. The actual time of the ship's stay, departure from the port and arrival at the port may vary by approximately 1 hour. Information on the online coordinates of all ships provided by the service is for informational purposes only and should not be used for navigation.
In contact with
Seekers sea vessels can now track their position on interactive map in real time. you can find detailed information about the movement of each vessel on the map below online and even look at photographs of many of the ships shown on the map.
The map can be dragged with the mouse directly in the interactive window. Ships can be tracked worldwide. If you want to see more ships, drag the map with the mouse to another area. Ships can be sorted using the menu in the upper right corner of the map map options.
Use the slider on the left to zoom in and out on the map:
Search vessels in real time begins with the fact that you are asked to select a sector on the map, which indicates the number of ships currently located there.
We click the mouse, for example, on the region of Europe and get the above picture.
For example, this is what it looks like coastline Germany:
If you hover your mouse over a boat, its name will appear. Also, the resource has another important vessel search function.
To search for the required ship, you need to enter its name (and localization, if known) into the search bar on the map and click search. Will be indicated real-time location and position of the vessel.
This map can also be very useful for those who are interested in international transport, as it allows you to track the movement of goods on sea vessels.
And functional automated project management systems in an enterprise will help make the business efficient and stable.
Real-time ship traffic map. AIS
AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a system in shipping that serves to identify ships, their dimensions, course and other data using VHF radio waves.
IN Lately There has been a tendency to interpret AIS as an Automatic Information System (English: AIS Automatic Information System), which is associated with the expansion of the functionality of the system compared to the ordinary task of identifying vessels.
In accordance with the Convention, SOLAS 74/88 is mandatory for ships of over 300 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages, ships of 500 gross tonnage or more not engaged on international voyages, and all passenger ships. Vessels and yachts with a smaller displacement can be equipped with a class B device. Data transmission is carried out on international communication channels AIS 1 and AIS 2 in the SOTDMA protocol (Self Organizing Time Division Multiple Access). Frequency modulation with GMSK keying is used.
Purpose of AIS
AIS is designed to increase the level of navigation safety, efficiency of navigation and operation of the vessel traffic control center (VTCS), environmental protection, ensuring the following functions:
as a means of preventing collisions in ship-to-ship mode;
as a means of obtaining information about the vessel and cargo by competent coastal services;
as a VTS tool in ship-to-shore mode for controlling vessel traffic;
as a means of monitoring and tracking ships, as well as in search and rescue (SAR) operations.
AIS components
The AIS system includes the following components:
VHF transmitter,
one or two VHF receivers,
global satellite navigation receiver (for example, GPS, GLONASS), for ships flying the Russian flag, the GLONASS module in the AIS device is strictly required, the main source of coordinates. GPS is auxiliary and can be taken from a GPS receiver using the NMEA protocol;
modulator/demodulator (converter of analogue data to digital and vice versa),
microprocessor based controller
equipment for input/output of information to control elements.
Operating principle of AIS
The operation of AIS is based on the reception and transmission of messages in the VHF range. The AIS transmitter operates at longer wavelengths than radars, which allows the exchange of information not only over direct distances, but also in areas with obstacles in the form of small objects, as well as in bad weather conditions. Although one radio channel is sufficient, some AIS systems transmit and receive on two radio channels in order to avoid interference problems and not disrupt the communication of other objects. AIS messages may contain:
identification information about the object,
information about the state of the object, received automatically from the object’s control elements (including from some electro-radio navigation devices),
information about geographic and time coordinates that AIS receives from the global navigation satellite system,
information entered manually by facility maintenance personnel (security-related).
The transfer of additional text information between AIS terminals (paging) is provided. Transmission of such information is possible both to all terminals within the range, and to one specific terminal.
In order to ensure the unification and standardization of AIS, the International Radio Regulations stipulate two channels for use for AIS purposes: AIS-1 (87V - 161.975 MHz) and AIS-2 (88V - 162.025 MHz), which should be used everywhere, with the exception of regions with special frequency regulation.
The digital information transmission rate in the AIS channel is selected at 9600 bps.
The operation of each AIS station (mobile or base) is strictly synchronized to UTC time with an error of no more than 10 μs from the built-in GNSS receiver (in the Russian Federation, according to signals from the combined GNSS receiver GLONASS/GPS). To transmit information, continuously repeating frames lasting 1 minute are used, which are divided into 2250 slots (time intervals) each lasting 26.67 ms.
Text uses 6-bit ASCII codes.
Displaying information about the environment in modern AIS is possible in 2 modes - both textual in the form of a table with a list of nearby vessels and their data, and in the form of a simplified schematic map depicting the relative positions of vessels and distances to them (calculated automatically based on the data transmitted by them geographical coordinates.) AIS is included in the list of equipment required to be provided with uninterruptible power supply from batteries.
