Free tool
Vessel Finder — live AIS ship tracker
Track ships and boats in real time on a free, live AIS map. Pan to any harbor or coastline to see vessels broadcasting their position — name, location, speed, and course. No account required.
Live positions via open AIS data (AISStream). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. For information only — not for navigation.
Real-time AIS
Live positions broadcast by the AIS transponders aboard each vessel, streamed straight to the map.
Pan anywhere
Drag to any harbor or coast — the map loads the vessels currently broadcasting in view.
Honest limits
Only AIS-equipped boats appear, and offshore coverage thins out — and we say so plainly.
Frequently asked
Is this vessel finder free?
Yes. It streams open, real-time AIS position data and renders it on a free OpenStreetMap map. No charge, and no account required to view it.
What is AIS?
AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a radio transponder standard that broadcasts a vessel's identity, position, speed, and course. It was built for collision avoidance and is now widely used to track ships in near real time.
Why do some boats not show up?
Only vessels with an AIS transponder switched on broadcast a position. Commercial ships and many larger yachts carry AIS, but plenty of small recreational boats do not. Coverage also thins offshore, beyond the range of land-based receivers.
Is the data real-time?
It is near real time from land-based AIS receivers, usually seconds to minutes old near the coast. Mid-ocean positions can lag because they rely on satellite AIS.
Can my marina use AIS to see incoming boats?
Yes. Dockmasters use AIS to see transient arrivals coming, confirm ETAs, and prep slips before a boat reaches the fuel dock. Our guide on AIS vessel tracking for marina operators covers exactly how.
Run a marina? AIS is just the start.
See how dockmasters put vessel tracking to work in our guide to AIS for marina operators — then run slips, billing, and the boatyard on one platform.