What Types of Vessels and Details Can I Look Up in the MarineTraffic Database?

MarineTraffic lets you look up both active and decommissioned vessels, and for each one you can typically see identity details, position information, and sometimes photos. It is best suited to general lookups and getting a picture of global vessel distribution, not to tasks that require guaranteed real-time accuracy or official records.

What the database covers

According to MarineTraffic's own description, its ships database contains more than 550,000 active and decommissioned vessels. That single figure tells you two important things:

• Active vessels are the main focus — ships currently operating and transmitting AIS signals.
• Decommissioned vessels are also included, which means the database is not only a live tracking tool but also a reference archive of ships that no longer sail.

This makes it useful for both "where is this ship right now" questions and "what was this ship" questions.

Types of vessels you can search

MarineTraffic describes its coverage as "vessels around the world," and the searchable database spans the global fleet rather than a single category. In practice, the vessel types you will encounter include:

The exact type labels shown for any individual vessel depend on what that vessel reports and how it is registered, so treat the category as a guide rather than a fixed classification.

Details available for each vessel

For a given ship, the kind of information you can expect to find falls into a few groups:

Identity and basic information

• Vessel name
• Unique identifiers used to distinguish one ship from another
• Vessel type and general characteristics

Position and movement

• Location on the near real-time ships map
• Position relative to ports and other vessels

Visual and reference material

• Photos for some vessel entries — not every ship has one, so photo availability varies by vessel.

Port and location context

• Port locations and ship positions viewable on the map, so you can place a vessel in geographic context.

Because the source material does not specify exact field-by-field data for every vessel, the reliable statement is this: identity and position basics are broadly available, while extras like photos are present only for some entries.

What it is good for — and what it is not

Good for:

• General lookups of a specific ship or port
• Understanding global vessel distribution
• Checking basic identity and position details
• Finding photos where they exist

Not ideal for:

• Anything requiring guaranteed exact real-time precision (the map is described as near real time)
• Official or legal records — this is a tracking and reference service, not an authority
• Assuming every vessel has complete data, since coverage and detail vary by ship

How to decide if it fits your need

Ask yourself which of these you are doing:

• "I want to find one ship and see where it is." MarineTraffic fits well.
• "I want a broad view of ships in an area." The near real-time map fits well.
• "I need certified, legally authoritative vessel records." Look elsewhere; this is a general reference and tracking tool.
• "I need to be certain a position is exact to the second." Treat the data as near real time, not guaranteed exact.

If your task is general querying or building a sense of global vessel distribution, the database's combination of active and decommissioned vessels, identity and position details, and occasional photos covers it.