How to Find a Specific Vessel or Port on MyShipTracking

Updated

To find a specific vessel or port on MyShipTracking, use the site's Vessel Database or Port Database, or search directly on the realtime map. Enter the vessel name (or IMO/MMSI where you have it) or the port name, then open the result to see position, speed, destination, ETA, and — for ports — port calls and activity. The map is free to use; the site also lists paid Plans and a Pricing page for API/AIS data services, so treat advanced data access as a separate, paid offering rather than part of basic lookup.

Before you start

  • What you need: the vessel's name, IMO number, or MMSI number, or the port's name. The more exact the identifier, the fewer false matches.
  • What you get: a map position, vessel details (size, build, speed, voyage status), destination and calculated ETA, and port-level information such as port calls.
  • What to expect on accuracy: the site states that all data is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE," and that it is not responsible for reliability and accuracy. AIS positions can lag or drop out, so confirm time stamps (the site offers "Received Time" and time-format options including UTC and local time) before relying on a position.

Find a vessel

  1. Open the site and go to the Vessel Database (linked in the footer under "Vessels & Ports"), or use the map's vessel search.
  2. Enter the vessel name, or the IMO/MMSI if you have it. Submit the search.
  3. From the results, select the vessel to open Vessel Details. The details panel covers:
    • Size and Build
    • Speed
    • Voyage status — for example Under way using engine, At anchor, Moored, Restricted manoeuvrability, Engaged in fishing, Aground
    • Destination and Calculated ETA
    • Received Time for the last position
  4. To see where the vessel has been, enable the Past Track / History Track option on the map. You can color the track by speed and adjust track visibility.
  5. Verify: check that the vessel's name and identifiers match your target, and compare the "Received Time" against the current time. If the position looks stale, the vessel may be out of AIS range or its transponder may be off.

If the vessel doesn't appear

  • Try alternate identifiers (name vs. IMO vs. MMSI); names are often duplicated across fleets.
  • Zoom in on the map — some label options are hidden at lower zoom levels, and the site prompts you to zoom in to activate certain views.
  • Check the Time Indicator and label options; a position may exist but not be displayed with your current filters.

Find a port

  1. Go to the Port Database, or select Ports from the map menu.
  2. Search for the port name and open the port page.
  3. Review Port Calls to see vessel traffic and activity at that port.
  4. On the map, use the Ports layer and port labels to see the port's location relative to nearby vessels. You can also switch to Navionics or Satellite base maps for better context.
  5. Verify: cross-check the port name and location on the map, and note the time zone setting (My Local Time, Port's Local Time, or UTC) so port-call times are interpreted correctly.

Ports not listed

The site includes a "Submit a new Port" option and a "Add missing port" control on the map, so you can contribute a port that isn't yet in the database.

Useful map tools while searching

Tool What it does
Map & Layers Switch between Standard, Dark, Satellite, and Navionics maps; toggle overlays such as OpenSeaMap and Graticule
Icons & Labels Filter by vessel type (Cargo, Tanker, Passenger, Fishing, Tug/Pilot, Yacht, etc.) and show labels for Underway, Anchored, Ports
Label Options Display name, speed, destination, calculated ETA, and received time on labels
Measure Measure distances on the map
Playback Replay vessel movement over time at speeds from x1 to x10000
Fleet Mode Track a group of vessels together
Weather Layers Overlay wind, temperature, cloud cover, rain, and pressure

When to use which entry point

  • You know the ship's name or number: start with the Vessel Database for a direct match, then open the map for position and past track.
  • You're monitoring an area or a port: start on the map with the Ports layer and port calls, then drill into individual vessels.
  • You need historical movement: use Playback and Past Track rather than the live position alone.
  • You need programmatic or bulk AIS data: the site lists an API for AIS Data Services and Pricing pages; check those directly for current terms, since plan details and access conditions are not specified in the available site information.

One practical caution: because positions depend on AIS reception, a vessel shown "Moored" or "At anchor" may simply be outside coverage. Confirm with the received time and, where it matters, a second source.