MarineTraffic Review
Real-time ship tracking via a global AIS receiver network — the default starting point for maritime OSINT
Quick Verdict
Journalists, compliance analysts, and sanctions researchers tracking vessel movements, port call patterns, and AIS dark events for commercial shipping
Pros
- + Best consumer-grade maritime tracking product — largest AIS receiver network of any free tool
- + Port call history going back 12 months on Basic tier, 5 years on Professional
- + IMO number lookup enables tracking across flag changes and vessel renames
- + Community-submitted vessel photos help confirm identity when position data alone isn't enough
- + Mobile app is functional and mirrors the web UI data depth
Cons
- − AIS dark periods produce zero data — vessels that turn off their transponder disappear entirely
- − API pricing is enterprise-tier with no transparent public rate card
- − Add-on pricing structure makes actual cost for research use unclear until checkout
- − Ownership and registry data lags — beneficial ownership often outdated or absent
- − Satellite AIS carries a delay; land-based coverage is uneven in inland and coastal areas
What MarineTraffic Is
MarineTraffic tracks ships in real time, using AIS data from land-based VHF receivers and satellite feeds, which is displayed on a live map. The historical records show position, speed, heading, port calls, and voyage details.
The AIS system is mandatory for commercial vessels over 300 gross tons on international voyages and for all passenger ships. Most ships have AIS. MarineTraffic claims 750,000 users and covers major commercial lanes. It serves as a go-to tool for investigators, similar to Flightradar24 for ships.
MarineTraffic was founded in 2007 by a Greek academic team.
What It's Good For
MarineTraffic assists investigators in several ways. Investigators can track a vessel's past movements, including port calls and voyage data. This information is useful for sanctions evasion cases, as a vessel's history can reveal suspicious activity.
AIS dark detection is critical. A cargo vessel disabling its AIS near a sanctioned port raises a red flag. MarineTraffic provides the data; investigators see where the track drops.
The service monitors sanctions and illicit trade. Vessels suspected of transporting crude, weapons, or dual-use goods are tracked. Investigators can follow a ship's flags, ownership changes, and AIS manipulation. IMO numbers remain constant. Port call history is also available.
Flag and ownership lookup is available. Investigators can find out who owns a vessel, the flag it flies, and if either has changed recently. MarineTraffic's data can be verified against IMO records.
The service provides expected arrivals and port intelligence. This includes information on when a vessel is due at a port. Port congestion data is available on the Pro tier. This supports supply chain investigations and freight analysis.
Vessel photo verification is also available. The community photo archive allows investigators to match the vessel name. Hull markings in a photo help with similar-named vessels and recently renamed ones.
Getting Started
Getting Started with MarineTraffic
To get started with MarineTraffic, head to marinetraffic.com and sign up for free. You can browse the live map without logging in, but digging into historical data requires an account.
Vessel Lookup
To find a specific ship, type the vessel name, MMSI, or IMO in the search bar. The vessel page shows where it is or was, its flag, type, size, and age. The Voyage History section displays recent movements, while Port Calls lists arrivals and departures. The IMO number never changes, making it ideal for consistent searches.
AIS Dark Investigation
Tracking ships that don't broadcast their position involves several steps. First, grab the port call history and look for gaps in location data. Then, check if those gaps match sanctioned ports or transshipment hotspots. The Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, and West Africa are areas worth a closer look.
Fleet Monitoring
For professional tier users or above, setting alerts on a ship or a list is available. Users get notified when the ship arrives or leaves a port, eliminating the need to constantly monitor the map.
AIS Data: What You Get
MarineTraffic shows vessel details like this: Ship's name, IMO number, MMSI, vessel type, gross tonnage, length and beam, year built.
Voyage history adds: departure and arrival ports, dates, route.
The core data can be built on.
| Field | What It Tells You | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MMSI | 9-digit vessel identifier | Primary AIS broadcast ID; can be spoofed |
| IMO number | Permanent vessel ID from IMO registry | Doesn't change with flag or name; best historical lookup key |
| Vessel name | Current registered name | Changes after sale or reflagging |
| Vessel type | Cargo, tanker, passenger, fishing, etc. | Broad classification — useful for triage |
| Flag | Country of registration | Flag-of-convenience changes are a red flag in sanctions context |
| Gross tonnage | Size measure | Determines AIS mandate threshold |
| Year built | Build year from registry | Contextual |
| Last known position | Lat/lon with timestamp | Live for land AIS; delayed for satellite AIS |
| Speed (SOG) | Speed over ground in knots | 0 knots at anchor or moored |
| Heading (COG) | Course over ground in degrees | |
| Destination | Self-reported by crew | Not verified; can be false or blank |
| ETA | Estimated time of arrival | Self-reported; often inaccurate |
| Port call history | Arrival/departure timestamps per port | Core investigative field — requires Basic tier or above |
| Voyage history | Full position track over time | Depth depends on subscription tier |
| Draught | Reported vessel depth in water | Can indicate loaded vs. empty — relevant for smuggling analysis |
| Photos | Community-submitted vessel images | Useful for visual identity confirmation |
Pricing
| Plan | Price | History | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited | Live tracking, basic vessel info, no voyage history depth |
| Basic | ~$4.99/mo | 12 months | Port call history, extended voyage history, no ads |
| Professional | ~$14.99/mo | 5 years | Vessel photos, port congestion data, fleet monitoring, alerts |
| Business | Custom | Full | API access, bulk data, fleet management |
Prices vary by region. Check marinetraffic.com/en/p/plans for the latest pricing. Base plans get you started, and add-ons for extra data cost more.
Limitations
AIS dark happens. Vessels disappear when they disable their transponder. You see a gap. Not what happened inside it.
Satellite services can fill some gaps, but that's enterprise-grade stuff.
Vessel registry data is stale. Ownership updates lag; months can pass before a sale or reflagging shows up. Don't take MarineTraffic ownership as gospel; cross-reference with IMO's GISIS or the flag state registry. IMO's GISIS, flag state registry, and other sources.
AIS has line-of-sight limits. Inland and coastal gaps exist. River barges and small coastal vessels often create gaps, even if they're transmitting. River barges, small coastal vessels.
Satellite AIS is delayed. Position data from satellites can be minutes to hours delayed. Live data isn't live; it's delayed.
No API transparency exists. There is no self-serve for bulk lookups, no automated alerts, and no historical data. You're in enterprise sales.
Alternatives
Vessel Tracking Services
VesselFinder is a close match to MarineTraffic, with similar features and a comparable free tier. Check it if a vessel is missing or data seems off.
FleetMon offers similar features, with deeper historical data, making it useful for investigations needing a longer lookback.
Kpler serves sanctions analysts, traders, and agencies, blending AIS data with cargo tracking, ownership research, and dark event detection.
Global Fishing Watch tracks fishing vessels for free for research and academic use, focusing on illegal fishing.
TankerTrackers tracks oil tankers, providing dark vessel analysis, and is used in sanctions journalism.
Verdict
MarineTraffic Professional costs approximately $14.99/month. It handles most vessel-level OSINT. AIS has a dark vessel limitation. MarineTraffic shows you activity before and after a vessel goes dark. For sanctions and illicit trade research, dark events are key. Kpler or TankerTrackers help you investigate the gap, providing solutions for these situations.
See Also
- MarineTraffic vs VesselFinder (2026)
- OSINT for Vehicle Investigations: VINs, License Plates, and Vehicle Tracking
- AIS Marine Tracking with SDR: Build Your Own Ship Receiver
Further Reading
Tool Relationships
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Community Rating
Ratings from security researchers. No third-party tracking.
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This review reflects testing as of 2026-04-02. OSINT tools change frequently — check the vendor's current documentation for pricing and feature updates. Report an error →