Ship Tracking – follow any ship in the world, live

The live map below shows the world’s marine traffic in real time. Every icon is a real ship transmitting its position through AIS: cargo vessels, tankers, cruise ships, ferries and pleasure craft. Zoom in on any port or coastline, click a ship and you’ll see its name, type, course, speed and destination.

How to track a ship on the live map

Use the magnifier on the map to search by ship name, or zoom to the area you’re interested in. Busy areas like the English Channel, the Strait of Gibraltar and the port of Rotterdam are fascinating to watch: hundreds of vessels pass through them every day. Map options let you switch between map layers and filter by vessel type, so you can show only tankers, only passenger ships, or everything at once.

How does ship tracking work?

Nearly all sea-going ships are required to carry an AIS transponder (Automatic Identification System). It continuously broadcasts the ship’s identity, GPS position, heading and speed. A worldwide network of receiving stations picks up those signals and turns them into the live positions you see on the map. The map on this page uses AIS data provided via MarineTraffic. Coverage is excellent along coasts and shipping lanes; far out on the ocean, positions can be delayed until a ship comes back within range of a receiver or is picked up by satellite AIS.

What can you see for each ship?

Click any vessel on the map to open its details: ship name and type, current position, course and speed, draught, destination port and estimated time of arrival. For most ships you can also look up static details such as the IMO number, flag state and dimensions.

Frequently asked questions

Is ship tracking free?

Yes. The live map on this page is free to use, 24/7, on desktop, tablet and phone.

Why can’t I find a specific ship?

Small recreational boats often have no AIS transponder, some vessels switch AIS off, and ships far from shore may not be in range of a receiver.

Can I track a cruise ship or ferry?

Yes. Passenger ships are required to carry AIS, so cruise ships and ferries are among the easiest vessels to follow.

About this site

ship-tracking.net is an independent information site. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by MarineTraffic (Kpler) or VesselFinder. The map on this site shows AIS data via a MarineTraffic embed.