Watch the world's ships sail Earth's oceans in REAL TIME: Interactive map reveals crowded routes taken by planet's vessels
- Marine Traffic map lets anyone trace a vessel that has a position ‘transponder’ similar to those used by aircraft
- Transponder broadcasts the ships’ position, name, course and speed allowing other vessels to avoid collisions
- Vessel tracks are coloured according to type and users can zoom in to see which ships are moving in that area
- Clicking on a placemark allows users to find picture of the ship as well as its speed, vessel type and destination
Published: 12:16 BST, 22 May 2014 | Updated: 15:29 BST, 22 May 2014
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All over the world, majestic shipping vessels are navigating through vast oceans as they bring their valuable cargoes to port.
While their routes may seem far-flung, anyone can track their progress in real-time from the comfort of their desk using this addictive interactive map.
Developed by a group of global academics, the Marine Traffic map lets users trace a shipping vessel with a position ‘transponder’ similar to those used by aircraft.
Zoom in on the interactive map to see shipping vessels in your area...
Users can zoom in to get more details about the ship’s route and name, while zooming out provides a summary of position data. Clicking on a ship placemark allows users to receive a picture of the ship, speed, vessel type, size, draft and destination
All commercial shipping vessels over 299 gross tonnage (GT) are now required to use the system, named AIS (Automatic Identification System).
This broadcasts information such as the ships’ position, name, course and speed, allowing other vessels to avoid potentially fatal collisions.
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The map relies on a community of data collectors who use a simple AIS receiver to upload data on a ship’s positions for a given port.
For instance, it's possible to pinpoint the location of some of the ships involved in the search for the missing UK yacht the Cheeki Rafiki.
Developed by a group of global academics, the Marine Traffic map lets anyone trace a shipping vessel which a position 'transponder' similar to those used by aircraft. This broadcasts information such as the ships' position, name, course and speed allowing other vessels to avoid potentially fatal collisions. Shown here are the routes of the world's shipping vessels
A view of shipping routes around the UK. The map relies on a community of data collectors who use an AIS receiver to upload data on a ship's positions for a given port
HOW TO USE THE INTERACTIVE MAP
Zooming in provides more details about the ship’s route and name, while zooming out provides a summary of position data.
Clicking on a ship placemark allows users to receive a picture of the ship, speed, vessel type, size, draft and destination.
Moving vessels are displayed as ship icons pointing to the specified direction they are heading.
Ships that are not moving, or moving at a speed less than 0.5 knots, anchored or moored are displayed as small squares.
Vessel icons and tracks are coloured according to whether they are a cargo, tanker or passenger ship.
Cargo vessel AM Hamburg is part of the operation and can be seen heading in a northerly direction around 1000 miles (1,600 km) east of Cape Cod.
The map also reveals how seven of the 10 biggest ports in the world are in China. The remaining three are in Singapore, the Netherlands and South Korea.
It also shows how the English Channel has become overcrowded as ships become larger, faster and more numerous.
Users can zoom in to get more details about the ship’s route and name, while zooming out provides a summary of position data.
Clicking on a ship placemark allows users to receive a picture of the ship, speed, vessel type, size, draft and destination.
Data received is uploaded in the database in real-time and immediately available on the map.
The map refreshes every 100 seconds with updated vessel positions and information if a new ship has entered the range of the search.
However, the creators said that several positions shown on map may be not continuously refreshed and could be up to an hour old.
Moving vessels are displayed as ship icons pointing to the specified direction they are heading.
The green lines show ships moving towards and away from the U.S. Busy port activity that includes tankers is shown by the red dots. The map allows you to zoom into these areas to pick specific ships and found out more details about where they came from
The map shows how the English Channel has become overcrowded as ships become larger, faster and more numerous. The tanker routes coming into London and Dover are particularly heavy with traffic as shown by the red areas
Ships that are not moving, or moving at a speed less than 0.5 knots, anchored or moored are displayed as small squares.
Vessel icons are coloured according to whether they are a cargo, tanker or passenger ship.
‘Anyone can install a VHF antenna, an AIS receiver and start immediately sending and seeing data on the map, through a PC and a simple internet connection,’ the creators said on their website.
There are additional clients for iPhone and Android users. And if you want to get notifications of what your favourite boats are doing, you can sign up for alerts and notifications.
Clicking on a ship placemark allows users to receive a picture of the ship, speed, vessel type, size, draft and destination. Data received is uploaded in the database in real time and immediately available on the map
The map refreshes every 100 seconds with updated vessel positions and information if a new ship has entered the range of the search. Shown here are shipping routes around Australia and Papua New Guinea
Maps certainly help us understand the world, including the size, distance, and location of cruise destinations. These cruise maps provide an overview of some destinations to consider for planning your next cruise.
Caribbean Cruise Maps
A Caribbean cruise map can be useful in planning your cruise or finding the ports and distances to interesting sites nearby. Many of the Caribbean itinerary ports are islands, but countries in North America, South America, and Central America all include Caribbean cruise ports of call.
This gallery of maps includes many of these Caribbean islands and countries of the Americas with Caribbean ports visited by cruise ships, along with the Bahamas, which are in the Atlantic Ocean, and Bermuda.
This gallery of maps includes many of these Caribbean islands and countries of the Americas with Caribbean ports visited by cruise ships, along with the Bahamas, which are in the Atlantic Ocean, and Bermuda.
North and Central America Cruise Maps
Although the world is filled with marvelous cruise destinations, some exciting destinations are close to home for those of us living in the Americas.
On the Pacific Ocean, cruisers can sail to Alaska, Hawaii, or along the Pacific Coast of North America. In addition, they can visit the Mexican Riviera or stopover in one of the countries of Central America on their way through the Panama Canal. Cruises repositioning to or from South America also often visit Pacific Ocean ports in Central America, the USA, or Canada.
On the Atlantic Ocean, cruises often visit New England and Atlantic Canada in the fall. Caribbean cruises visit Mexico and Central America.
On the Pacific Ocean, cruisers can sail to Alaska, Hawaii, or along the Pacific Coast of North America. In addition, they can visit the Mexican Riviera or stopover in one of the countries of Central America on their way through the Panama Canal. Cruises repositioning to or from South America also often visit Pacific Ocean ports in Central America, the USA, or Canada.
On the Atlantic Ocean, cruises often visit New England and Atlantic Canada in the fall. Caribbean cruises visit Mexico and Central America.
South America Cruise Maps
Like North America, cruise travelers can visit South America from three oceans—the Atlantic, the Pacific, or the Caribbean. South America can be a long flight, but covers only three time zones. The far eastern coast of Brazil is three hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, Buenos Aires is two hours different, and the western coast of South America is on Eastern Standard Time.
Mediterranean Cruise Maps
Twenty-three countries spanning three continents surround the Mediterranean. Some countries like Italy, Greece, Spain, France, and Turkey have many ports of call. Others like Croatia and Morocco are just discovering what cruise tourism can do to help their economies. Finally, some countries are way off the beaten path for cruise tourism, but you might be able to find a small or boutique cruise ship if you are determined to visit them.
Northern Europe Cruise Maps
Dozens of cruise ships sailing the northern Atlantic Ocean or the Baltic Sea stopover in several of these 17 countries of northern Europe. In addition, river ships cruise the Russian waterways, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
Northern European cruise itineraries most often feature the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea, but others cruise the Norwegian fjords or the United Kingdom and Ireland.
European River Cruise Maps
River cruises enable travelers to see some of the great capitals of Europe along with medieval villages and fascinating towns along the way.
River cruise itineraries cross Europe between the Black Sea and the North Sea, using the Danube, Main, and Rhine Rivers or portions of these rivers. Other river ships sail either the Seine or the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France, the Moselle or Elbe Rivers in Germany, the Douro River in Portugal, or the Vistula or Oder Rivers of Poland. Spring river cruises feature the tulips of the Netherlands and Belgium. Moreover, river ships sail between St. Petersburg, Moscow, and the Black Sea on the rivers and waterways of Russia.
Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific Cruise Maps
The South Pacific and the islands of Oceania are becoming popular cruise destinations, with ships circumnavigating the continent of Australia, sailing between New Zealand and Australia, cruising the islands of French Polynesia, and exploring the smaller islands of Oceania.
South and East Asia Cruise Maps
South and East Asia are rapidly becoming popular cruise ship destinations. The ports are exotic and interesting, the culture and history are fascinating, and the area is an excellent choice for cruises in the winter, spring, and fall.
Many cruise lines base ships in South and East Asia for a part of the year, and others include Asian ports on world or extended-length cruises.
Many cruise lines base ships in South and East Asia for a part of the year, and others include Asian ports on world or extended-length cruises.
Southwest Asia, Middle East, and Red Sea Cruise Maps
War in the Middle East (or more properly Southwest Asia) has kept many travelers from visiting this region, but a cruise is a good way to tour there in relative safety. These maps show the most popular ports of call in Southwest Asia, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea.
Repositioning cruises between the Mediterranean and and Far East stopover in countries along the Red Sea, as do many world cruises. Dubai has become so popular that some cruise ships are based there in the winter months.
Africa Cruise Maps
Africa has cruise ship ports on three oceans—the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. Although Africa is not usually thought of as a cruise destination, these 20 countries are visited by cruise ships.
Many of these ships are on extended-length or world cruises from Europe, North America, or Australia. However, some cruise ships are based in southeast Africa during the winter months while the weather is cold in the northern hemisphere.
Many of these ships are on extended-length or world cruises from Europe, North America, or Australia. However, some cruise ships are based in southeast Africa during the winter months while the weather is cold in the northern hemisphere.
Antarctica Cruise Map
Antarctica is often called the 'white continent,' and the name is well-deserved. Much of Antarctica is covered with ice and snow, and cruise ships primarily sail from the tip of South America or Africa to the Antarctic peninsula.