Global AIS Vessel Tracking & Fleet Monitoring
Monitor vessels, fleets, ports and voyages worldwide using combined satellite and terrestrial AIS, real-time alerts and multi-year movement history.
Trusted by leading maritime teams
24 million
Vessel position reports every single day
450K
Vessels tracked
4,500
Ports monitored
96%
BigOceanData clients renew their contracts
See every vessel, everywhere
BigOceanData tracks 450,000 vessels through 24 million position reports every day, combining terrestrial and satellite AIS into one continuous, reliable feed across coastal waters, open ocean and everywhere between.
Built for operational teams, analysts and maritime decision-makers, the platform turns that feed into a working picture: live fleet positions, real-time alerts, SSAS integration, area monitoring, port and anchorage activity, and voyage replay, all shared across your whole team in a single workspace.
Core capabilities:
- Multi-source vessel visibility
- AIS blackspot resilience
- Alerts and area monitoring
- Port and anchorage visibility
- Voyage replay and investigation
- Fleet activity tracking
From live monitoring to operational response
When something needs attention, BigOceanData takes your team from the first alert to a clear decision without changing systems. Alerts, zones and SSAS flag the events that matter, while voyage replay, port and anchorage activity and full vessel history sit alongside the live picture, ready for the investigation that follows.
Because detection, investigation and response happen in the same workspace, incidents are understood sooner, decisions are made with full context, and your whole team works from the same information from the first alert to the final report.
Powerful Tracking. Advanced Control.
Global Coverage
Combined satellite and terrestrial AIS delivers continuous visibility worldwide, and positions from onboard systems or dedicated tracking devices can be added to keep the picture complete.
Advanced Search and Filtering
Identify vessels by type, flag, ownership, activity pattern, speed behaviour or custom-defined criteria.
Fleet and Market Monitoring
Track your own vessels, third-party fleets and wider market activity from a single shared view, supporting both operational oversight and competitive awareness.
Port Activity and Voyage Intelligence
Monitor expected arrivals, in-port status and departures alongside voyage replay and historical movement data to support planning, investigation and incident review.
Behavioural Analytics
Detect anomalies, loitering, unusual speed patterns and suspicious routing activity to support risk assessment and informed decision-making.
Alerts and Area Monitoring
Define zones, set thresholds and receive event-based notifications for operational or security-sensitive situations before they escalate.
VertomCory: Global vessel intelligence, broader market visibility and faster STS analysis
Trusted by teams who rely on maritime visibility every day
“Maersk needed the ability to track containers. After signing a two-year contract with BigOceanData in September 2016 for vessel tracking services, Maersk extended and expanded the agreement in early 2018 for a further 30 months, covering three times the original number of vessels and nearly double the number of tracked containers. Maersk continues to use the BigOceanData SSAS service, a cost-effective, well-supported solution.”
Stephan Martinussen
Head of GVPC at Maersk
“Our contract renewal with BigOceanData is a testament to the continued excellence of service and support the team provides. BigOceanData has been and will continue to be one of our key service providers at VertomCory, helping us to enhance the service package we provide to our key clients.”
Neil Flower
Agency Director
“Crisis24 is a global risk management and security services company. We commissioned BigOceanData to provide us with a custom-designed vessel tracking and risk management platform for a range of applications with our insurance, marine and offshore oil & gas clients. BigOceanData was responsive to our requirements from the outset; pioneering new ideas to create exactly what we wanted.“
Crisis24
“BigOceanData played a key role in de-risking the return of our vessel, SARBAS, from the Persian Gulf at the onset of hostilities. Their team provided excellent support over a weekend, rapidly setting up frequent Inmarsat-C position updates, seamlessly integrated with AIS data, to support a safer transit. The solution was highly cost-effective and delivered with efficiency and professionalism throughout. The team are a pleasure to work with.”
Mark Robinson
Marine Director
Latest news and insights
Insights
We watched every large cargo Ship and Tanker in the Strait of Hormuz for 30 Days
BigOceanData monitored Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic for 30 days, analysing every qualifying cargo ship and tanker observed across the strait and its approaches. The results reveal a maritime corridor operating far outside its normal patterns. On a normal day, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest energy corridors. In January, ourContinue reading “We watched every large cargo Ship and Tanker in the Strait of Hormuz for 30 Days”
Insights
Which vessel tracking platform is right for your team? MarineTraffic, VesselFinder, or BigOceanData?
“Should we use you, MarineTraffic or VesselFinder? “ It is a question we are asked directly, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a sales pitch. The short version: if you are an individual who needs vessel positions, or a business looking for standalone AIS data feeds, VesselFinder is a sensible place to start. If you are a large organisationContinue reading “Which vessel tracking platform is right for your team? MarineTraffic, VesselFinder, or BigOceanData?”
News, Press
BigOceanData launches Route Optimisation as part of its connected maritime operations platform
New capability combines weather-aware routing, vessel-specific logic and operational constraints to support better voyage decisions London, 21 April 2026 — BigOceanData today announced the launch of Route Optimisation, a new capability within the BigOceanData platform designed to help shipowners, operators and managers make better voyage decisions by connecting route planning with live operational visibility. BuiltContinue reading “BigOceanData launches Route Optimisation as part of its connected maritime operations platform”
Insights
From Live Positions to Better Decisions: The Real Value of Vessel Tracking
Vessel tracking is often reduced to a simple visual: a ship moving across a map. That is useful, but it is not where the real value sits. In practice, the value comes from what a team can decide once that movement is visible, interpretable, and connected to the operational picture around it. In shipping, timingContinue reading “From Live Positions to Better Decisions: The Real Value of Vessel Tracking”
News
Bulgarian Shipping Company Renews Agreement
A leading Bulgarian shipping company has renewed its partnership with BigOceanData following a highly successful initial term. Operating a fleet of 36 bulk carriers worldwide, the company requires reliable vessel tracking — even in regions where AIS coverage is limited. To address this, we implemented scheduled Inmarsat-C reporting alongside AIS data, ensuring continuous and accurateContinue reading “Bulgarian Shipping Company Renews Agreement”
News, Press
International Maritime Security Provider Extends 15-Year Partnership with BigOceanData
A leading international maritime security provider has renewed its long-standing relationship with BigOceanData, continuing to use a white-labelled version of the platform to support its global client base.
News
Diaplous Maritime Services Agreement Renewal Strengthens Maritime Security Capabilities
BigOceanData’s long-running partnership with Diaplous Maritime Services has been extended, building on collaboration that began in 2020. The agreement provides core vessel tracking services and enhanced area monitoring solutions, delivering real-time intelligence on marine traffic within designated regions. The extension reflects growing demand for integrated maritime security and situational awareness, particularly as global shipping routesContinue reading “Diaplous Maritime Services Agreement Renewal Strengthens Maritime Security Capabilities”
News, Press
Maersk-Line Renews Commitment to BigOceanData’s Integrated SSAS
Maersk-Line has once again renewed its commitment to BigOceanData’s integrated Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) for a further term.
News, Press
US-based superyacht management company renews agreement
A US-based superyacht management company has renewed its BigOceanData subscription, continuing to leverage a combination of AIS, Inmarsat-C, and Iridium scheduled reporting to ensure continuous, high-confidence vessel tracking worldwide.
News, Press
European Government Renews BigOceanData Fisheries VMS Contract
BigOceanData is proud to announce that a major European Fisheries Department has extended its use of our Fisheries Vessel Monitoring System technologies and support for a 12th year!
News, Press
European Bulk and Tanker Operator Extends Use of BigOceanData Vessel Tracking
A long-standing European-based bulk and tanker operator has extended its use of BigOceanData’s advanced vessel tracking services for an eighth year.
News, Press
Cory Brothers Extends BigOceanData Contract for a Further Two Years
BigOceanData is pleased to announce the renewal of its contract with Cory Brothers, a leading global provider of logistics and maritime services. The agreement extends the partnership for another two years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about BigOceanData vessel tracking and AIS data.
It depends on what you need. For an individual following vessel movements, VesselFinder and MarineTraffic’s personal plans probably work well. For large multinationals running fleet-wide data programmes, MarineTraffic’s enterprise offering is a strong fit. BigOceanData is built for the teams in between: operations, security and management teams who share responsibility for a fleet. They get one workspace with multiple users, satellite and terrestrial AIS on every plan, and each managed vessel carries its own alerts, zones, workflows and voyage history. We also support requirements that go beyond AIS, including SSAS and tracking via ship systems such as Inmarsat-C and Iridium, which is where many of our longest-standing customers began.
BigOceanData Vessel Tracking provides real-time and historical visibility of vessel movements globally. It combines multiple AIS data sources with maritime intelligence to give a clearer and more reliable view of fleet and vessel activity.
BigOceanData combines multiple AIS data sources, including terrestrial AIS, satellite AIS and additional maritime data inputs, improving coverage and reliability compared to single-source solutions. Update frequency depends on AIS source and location, but BigOceanData combines multiple feeds to improve update rates and consistency.
Accuracy depends on AIS signal availability, but by combining multiple data sources, BigOceanData improves position frequency and reliability, particularly in challenging areas such as open ocean or high-traffic regions.
Yes. The platform provides global coverage, including coastal and open ocean regions, supported by satellite AIS and terrestrial networks.
BigOceanData enhances visibility by combining multiple data sources and applying intelligence to vessel movements. While AIS gaps can occur, the platform helps provide a more complete operational picture than single-source solutions.
Yes. Users can track their own fleet as well as third-party vessels, supporting operational monitoring, chartering, market intelligence and risk awareness.
Yes. Users can set up alerts for vessel movements, port arrivals and departures, and defined geographic areas to stay informed and respond quickly.
Yes. BigOceanData provides access to historical vessel data, allowing users to analyse past voyages, trading patterns and operational behaviour.
Vessel tracking is one of the three core pillars of the BigOceanData platform, alongside Route Optimisation and Maritime Intelligence, enabling connected operational decisions.
BigOceanData combines multi-source AIS data, operational workflow tools, route optimisation and maritime intelligence to provide a more connected decision-making platform.