The MarineTraffic service makes use of AIS tracking technology to provide information about the identification, course, speed and current location of vessels. MarineTraffic makes use of AIS vessel tracking technology to record 800 million vessel locations each month, while its database also includes information on ships, such as when and where they were built.

The MarineTraffic service is available to use for free, although a paid version also exists, adding more advance features. Little did he know, he was about to create one of the most important transport databases in the world. Essentially, the service was set up by Lekkas because he had an existing interest in computers and ship spotting, and had become interested in the practical uses of AIS vessel tracking technology. It is widely recognised as the world’s most comprehensive maritime database and the service is able to boast more than six million unique monthly users, as well as more than one million registered account holders.

MarineTraffic is a ship-tracking and maritime information service, which was founded by Dimitris Lekkas in 2007.

Ship types on world of warships