Is Voyage Radar free to use?

Yes, Voyage Radar is completely free. Track 350,000+ vessels worldwide with no registration required. All features including real-time tracking, voyage history playback, live weather overlays, and port calls are available at no cost.

What is AIS vessel tracking?

AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a maritime tracking standard where ships broadcast their position, speed, course, and identification data via radio. Voyage Radar collects these signals from a global network of terrestrial and satellite receivers to provide live ship tracking. AIS is mandatory for vessels over 300 gross tonnage on international voyages.

Can I see voyage history for a vessel?

Yes. Click any vessel to open its panel, then tap the calendar icon to choose a date range. Voyage Radar will replay the ship's past movements on the map so you can see exactly where it traveled.

What weather data is available on the map?

Voyage Radar provides live GFS weather overlays directly on the ship tracking map, including wind speed at 10 m, 80 m, and 100 m heights, significant wave height, wind sea height, wave power, sea-surface temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Toggle each layer individually from the toolbar.

How often does ship position data update?

Vessel positions update in real-time based on AIS transmission frequency. Ships underway typically broadcast every 2–10 seconds; anchored vessels every 3–6 minutes. Voyage Radar displays updates as they arrive.

How do I find a specific port?

Visit the Ports page at aisvesseltracker.com/ports/ to search our database of 3,800+ ports worldwide. Each port page shows current vessels in port, recent arrivals and departures, and full port details.

Can I track ships on mobile?

Yes. Voyage Radar is fully optimised for mobile and tablet browsers — no app download required. The responsive map and controls work seamlessly on iOS and Android devices.

How do I look up a ship by MMSI or IMO number?

Type the 9-digit MMSI number or 7-digit IMO number directly into the search box on Voyage Radar. The matching vessel will appear in the results and you can click it to open its live tracking panel.

Voyage Radar — Free Real-Time Ship Tracker & Live Marine Traffic Map

Track live positions of over 350,000 vessels worldwide using Voyage Radar, the free real-time AIS ship tracker. Monitor ships in real-time with detailed maritime data: vessel positions, voyage history playback, port arrivals and departures, live weather overlays, and full ship specifications — all at no cost, with no registration required.

Why Choose Voyage Radar for Ship Tracking?

Completely free AIS vessel tracker — no account or registration required
Track 350,000+ ships in real-time with live AIS position updates every few seconds
Live weather overlays: wind speed, wave height, sea temperature, atmospheric pressure
Voyage history playback — replay any ship's past route over a chosen date range
Port arrivals and departures with comprehensive harbour data for 3,800+ ports
Detailed vessel information: MMSI, IMO, call sign, flag state, type, and dimensions
Advanced filters by ship type, navigation status, and flag country
Search vessels instantly by name, MMSI number, or IMO number
Interactive marine traffic map with worldwide coverage
Mobile-friendly — track ships on any smartphone, tablet, or desktop

How to Track a Ship Step by Step

Open aisvesseltracker.com in any browser — no download needed.
Type a vessel name, MMSI, or IMO number into the search box.
Click the ship icon on the live map to open its real-time details panel.
Tap the calendar icon to replay voyage history for any date range.
Enable weather layers from the toolbar to see wind, waves, and temperature on the map.

All Vessel Types Tracked

Voyage Radar tracks every class of vessel: general cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers, LNG carriers, container ships, bulk carriers, passenger ferries, cruise ships, Ro-Ro vessels, fishing vessels, tugboats, offshore supply vessels, platform supply vessels, anchor handling vessels, pleasure craft, sailing yachts, high-speed craft, pilot boats, coast guard cutters, naval ships, research vessels, dredgers, and more.

Live Marine Weather Overlays

Voyage Radar now offers live GFS weather data overlaid directly on the ship tracking map. Toggle individual layers to visualise wind speed at 10 m, 80 m, and 100 m altitude, wind direction, significant wave height, wind sea height, wave power, animated wind particle streams, animated wave particle streams, sea-surface temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Each layer includes a colour-coded legend. Essential for understanding vessel operating conditions, voyage planning, and maritime safety monitoring.

Global Shipping Lane Coverage

Monitor vessel traffic in every major shipping lane and waterway. Track ships in the Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, South China Sea, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, and Arctic waters. Follow vessels through strategic chokepoints including the Panama Canal, Suez Canal, Strait of Gibraltar, Strait of Malacca, English Channel, Bosphorus, Strait of Hormuz, and Lombok Strait. Monitor traffic at the world's busiest ports: Singapore, Shanghai, Rotterdam, Los Angeles, Hamburg, Antwerp, Busan, Dubai, and thousands more.

How AIS Ship Tracking Works

Voyage Radar uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS) — a VHF radio-based maritime tracking standard mandated by the IMO for vessels over 300 gross tons on international voyages. Ships continuously broadcast their MMSI, name, position, speed over ground, course over ground, heading, navigational status, and destination. Voyage Radar aggregates these signals from a worldwide network of terrestrial AIS receivers and satellite AIS (S-AIS) sensors to provide real-time, global vessel tracking with near-zero latency.

Who Uses Voyage Radar?

Shipping companies and fleet operators tracking their vessels in real-time
Port authorities monitoring arrivals, departures, and berth occupancy
Freight forwarders and logistics professionals tracking cargo ETA
Marine insurance adjusters verifying vessel positions
Maritime lawyers and investigators gathering navigational evidence
Researchers and academics studying global shipping patterns
Journalists covering maritime news and environmental incidents
Ship spotters and marine enthusiasts following vessels of interest
Families tracking loved ones aboard merchant or cruise ships
Environmental organisations monitoring vessel emissions and protected areas

Port Database — 3,800+ Ports Worldwide

Browse Voyage Radar's port directory at aisvesseltracker.com/ports/ to search 3,800+ harbours, terminals, and anchorages. Each port page lists vessels currently in port, expected arrivals, recent departures, and comprehensive facility data. Track port calls for any vessel to see its full call history across multiple ports.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I track a ship in real-time?

Visit aisvesseltracker.com and type the ship's name, MMSI, or IMO number into the search bar. Click the matching result or the vessel icon on the live map. A panel opens showing the ship's current position, speed, course, destination, ETA, flag, type, and live weather at its location.

Is Voyage Radar free?

Yes — completely free. No registration, no subscription, no hidden fees. All features are available to every visitor at no cost.

What is AIS tracking?

AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a VHF transponder system installed on ships that broadcasts position, speed, heading, and vessel identity data. Voyage Radar collects these signals from global receivers to show every AIS-equipped vessel on the live map.

Can I see a vessel's voyage history?

Yes. Open any vessel's panel and tap the calendar icon. Choose a start and end date to replay the ship's recorded track on the map.

What weather data is shown on the map?

Voyage Radar overlays live GFS (Global Forecast System) data including wind speed and direction, significant wave height, wind sea height, wave power, animated particles for wind and waves, sea-surface temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Toggle each layer individually.