Boat Tracker: Follow Any Boat Live
In this article 7 sections
A boat tracker shows where a boat is right now on a live map. Whether you want to follow a friend’s sailing, watch a ferry approach the harbor or check on a fishing boat, boat tracking works the same way: a boat with an AIS transponder broadcasts its position, and a tracker such as MarineRadar plots it on a map you can search by name.
What a Boat Tracker Shows
A boat tracker reads AIS, the Automatic Identification System. A boat’s AIS transponder broadcasts its details, coastal receivers and satellites pick them up, and MarineRadar shows the result on a live map. Tap a boat and you can see:
- Live position: where the boat is, shown as a moving icon.
- Speed and heading: how fast it is going and which way.
- Name and MMSI number: the identifiers you can search by.
- Boat type: such as ferry, tug, fishing vessel or yacht.
- Destination and ETA: when the crew has entered them. These are typed in by hand, so treat them as a guide.
- Route history: the track the boat has actually sailed.
- Last updated time: how recent the position is.
Which boats appear on a boat tracker
Only boats that broadcast AIS appear.
- Commercial boats and ships. Ferries, tugs, cargo ships, tankers and cruise ships carry Class A transponders, so they update often and move smoothly on the map.
- Fishing boats and yachts with Class B. Class B signals are weaker and update less often, so these boats move in small steps and can drop out far from shore. See Class A vs Class B AIS for the differences.
- Boats that don’t appear. Dinghies, jet skis, kayaks and most small recreational boats have no transponder. Class B isn’t required by law, so a missing boat usually means no AIS rather than a tracking fault. A boat whose AIS is switched off or out of range won’t appear either.
Boat tracking, ship tracking and shipping trackers
Boat tracking and ship tracking use the same AIS data. People tend to say boat for smaller craft and ship for larger vessels, and MarineRadar shows both on one map.
“Shipping tracker” can mean two things. If you mean a vessel tracker, you are in the right place. If you mean tracking a shipment or container, a tracker like MarineRadar follows the ship carrying it, not the cargo, because AIS carries no cargo data. Get the vessel name from your carrier’s tracking page, then search it here. Our guide to tracking container ships explains how.
How to Use a Boat Tracker on MarineRadar
- Open the live map. Open the MarineRadar app or the live vessel map in your browser. Basic tracking needs no account.
- Search by name or MMSI. Type the boat’s name or MMSI number in the search bar. Names can be shared by several boats, so the MMSI is the most precise match. Small boats rarely have an IMO number.
- Zoom in near the coast. Class B signals are strongest within range of coastal receivers.
- Tap the boat. Read its details: position, speed, heading, and destination or ETA when available.
- Check the last updated time. Small boats update less often, so a position can be a few minutes old.
- Follow it. Add the boat to My Fleet to reopen it in one tap, replay its route history, and set a zone alert around a marina or harbor to be notified when it enters or leaves.
If you are on the shore and want to know what a boat is, Nearby Ships lists the vessels close to your location.
If you can't find a boat
- It may not carry AIS. Most small recreational boats don’t.
- The name may not match. Try the MMSI, or search part of the name.
- It may be out of range. Class B signals are weaker, so a small boat far from shore can drop out for a while.
- Its transponder may be off. A boat with AIS switched off will not show.
For specific boat types, see our guides to tracking private yachts and fishing vessels.
Who Uses a Boat Tracker
A boat tracker helps anyone who needs to know where a vessel is right now. Common uses include:
- Boat owners and families: follow a trip, or see when a boat is back in the harbor.
- People meeting a ship: check when a ferry or cruise ship will reach the terminal.
- Anglers and fishing crews: keep an eye on fishing vessels in a local area.
- Harbor and ship spotters: put a name to the vessel passing the shore, using Nearby Ships.
- Shippers and cargo owners: follow the ship carrying a shipment, as explained below.
How Accurate Is a Boat Tracker?
A boat tracker is as accurate as the signal it receives. The position comes from the boat’s own AIS transponder, so it matches the boat’s real location when the signal is fresh. Three things affect what you see:
- Update rate: large ships report every few seconds, while Class B boats update less often and appear to move in steps.
- Coverage: a boat far from coastal receivers can drop out for a while, and satellites fill some of those gaps.
- Crew-entered fields: destination and ETA are typed by hand, so they can be out of date or blank.
Check the last updated time before relying on a position. For more, see how accurate ship location data is on MarineRadar.
Shipping Tracker: Follow the Ship Carrying Your Shipment
A shipping tracker on MarineRadar follows the vessel, not the box. To follow a shipment:
- Get the vessel name or IMO number from your carrier’s tracking page or shipping documents.
- Search it on MarineRadar. The IMO number gives the exact ship, because names repeat.
- Read the position, speed, destination and ETA, and check the last updated time.
- Expect delays near ports. A ship waiting at anchor or moving slowly near its destination is often queuing for a berth.
AIS carries no cargo data, so the map shows where the ship is, not what is on board. Our guide to tracking container ships covers the steps in more detail, and our carrier guides cover Evergreen, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd and OOCL shipments.
Free Boat Tracker: What You Get on MarineRadar
MarineRadar is a free boat tracker you can use on your phone or in a browser. The app is free to download on iOS and Android, and basic tracking needs no account. The free version shows ads, and optional paid plans add extras such as ad removal and advanced tools. See MarineRadar Free vs. Paid for the differences.
FAQs
Is there a free boat tracker?
Yes. MarineRadar is free to download on iOS and Android, and basic tracking works without an account. The free version shows ads.
Can I track any boat?
Only boats that broadcast AIS. Commercial vessels, ferries and many fishing boats and yachts do. Dinghies, jet skis and most small recreational boats do not.
How do I search for a boat by name?
Open the MarineRadar search bar and type the boat’s name. If several boats share it, use the MMSI number for an exact match.
How often does a boat's position update?
It depends on the transponder. A ship underway reports every few seconds, while a small boat with Class B reports about every 30 seconds or less often. Check the last updated time before relying on a position.
Can I get alerts for a boat?
Yes. Set a zone alert around a harbor or marina to be notified when a boat enters or leaves it.
Download MarineRadar: Vessel Tracker from the Google Play Store or App Store and follow any boat live.
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MarineRadar follows 112,000+ vessels with satellite positions every 5 minutes. Search by name, MMSI or IMO — free on iOS and Android.
