How AIS Ship Tracking Works

AIS reports include the vessel’s reported position and time. Reception varies by location and provider coverage, so check the displayed update time before interpreting a position as current.

There are several reasons: the ship may be in an area without satellite coverage, the AIS transponder may be temporarily offline for maintenance, the ship may be in a port with poor signal, or there may be processing delays. The duration of a gap varies; check the latest report time when a position becomes available.

Yes! Cruise ships are required by international maritime law to carry AIS transponders. Our system tracks 380+ cruise ships worldwide, covering Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, and many more.

No, but they work together. GPS provides the ship's position, while AIS broadcasts that position to receivers. Think of GPS as the "sensor" and AIS as the "broadcast system" that shares the location with the world.

This can happen when there's a gap in received data followed by a new position report. Rather than showing a smooth path, the ship appears to jump from the last known position to the current one. This is normal and doesn't indicate an error.

Radar is a detection system that bounces signals off objects to locate them. AIS is a broadcast system where ships actively transmit their information. AIS provides more detailed data (ship name, destination, etc.) and works over longer distances, especially via satellite.

While technically possible, it's illegal for passenger ships to disable AIS except in specific security situations. Cruise ships keep their AIS active at all times for safety and regulatory compliance.

Class A AIS is required for all commercial vessels including cruise ships. It has higher power, more frequent transmissions, and priority over Class B. Class B is used by smaller vessels like yachts and fishing boats.