Merton 1 real time vessel location. Naval vessel traffic map online. Interactive map of maritime traffic

We present to you a unique map with which you can find the location of any ship in the world's oceans, as well as determine the direction of its movement.

The technology behind the card relies on a network of satellites capable of receiving encrypted Automatic Identification System, or AIS, signals. This system was developed specifically for civil navigation and is an encrypted signal transmitted by the ship into orbit. The signal contains basic information not only about the direction of movement of the vessel, but also key data about it - name, type, speed, cargo, destination port, etc. Information received by satellites is transmitted to the ground, where it is automatically processed.

The result of this processing was embodied in an interactive map of vessel movements, which can be seen below.

Interactive map of maritime traffic

Search for a ship by its name

A legend is attached to the map, thanks to which you can determine the type of ship being monitored. Similar data can be obtained by clicking on its icon on the map. You can monitor the movement of ships both in satellite mode and in the mode of overlaying a real image. In addition, if you know the name of the ship, you can find it on the map. To do this, you must enter the name in the appropriate field in English. If everything is done correctly, the map itself will be centered on the selected ship.
Video instructions for finding ships on the map

Map update

Almost all data shown on the map is updated in real time. It is worth remembering that the speed of movement of a ship on the open sea is relatively low, so if it seems that the ship is not moving, then perhaps you should just wait. However, this may not be the only reason for the ship’s “freezing” - the AIS satellite network still has “white spots” in the world’s oceans, into which ships periodically fall. In this case, you just need to wait until the ship can communicate with satellites again - its location will be updated.

Imagine that a ship is on the open sea. It is surrounded on all sides by only sky and water; neither the coast nor the island is visible around. Sail wherever you want! when there were no Earth satellites or radio communications? If the captain of a ship does not know how to make astronomical observations, he will not be able to determine the location of his ship. There is only one way out - to surrender “to the will of the waves.” But in this case, the ship is doomed to almost certain destruction.

Parallels and meridians

The entire surface of the globe is covered with a series of imaginary mutually perpendicular lines, which are called parallels and meridians, and their totality makes up the so-called degree grid. The line that is formed by a section of the globe with a plane passing through the center of the Earth perpendicular to the axis of its rotation is called equator. The equator is equally distant from both the South and North Poles. Longitude is the distance in degrees from some “zero” meridian to the west (western longitude) and to the east (eastern longitude). Longitude is measured from 0 to 180 degrees along the earth's equator. Latitude is the distance in degrees from the equator to a certain point lying either between the North Pole and the equator (north latitude) or between the South Pole and the equator (south latitude). Latitude is measured from 0 to 90 degrees. The introduction of the concept of longitude and latitude is of enormous importance: it made it possible to mark and record the location of a particular distant expedition in little-explored areas of the earth's surface or to determine the location of a ship on the high seas. Latitude and longitude at the same time serve as the basis of any geographical map. The longitude and latitude of any place are determined using astronomical observations. Safe navigation in the open seas and oceans was based on these observations.

Nautical mile

The coordinates of the ship's location on the open sea were determined only by astronomical observations. This is where the value is taken from nautical miles- the basic unit of measurement of distances traveled by a ship. A nautical mile corresponds to a change in the position of any star by exactly one minute of arc. For clarity, let’s imagine that the Sun is in the meridian and is being observed from two ships. If the difference in the heights of the Sun is one minute of arc, then, consequently, the distance between these ships will be equal to one nautical mile.

Nautical Science

The lack of accurate knowledge about the movement of celestial bodies and the inability to make astronomical observations have long served as a huge obstacle to the development of navigation. So, there was a persistent need to improve the science of navigation and nautical astronomy. The English Parliament in 1714 awarded a prize of 20 thousand pounds sterling to anyone who proposed a method for determining the longitude of a place at sea, at least with an accuracy of half a degree. Many people have been working on this issue for decades. It was tempting to become the author of such an important invention; it was no less tempting to receive the right to such a substantial prize. More than half a century has passed, and the task set by parliament has still not been solved.

Method for determining longitude

Finally, in 1770, the watchmaker Arnold proposed to parliament longitude determination method In the open sea. This method was based on the transportation of chronometers. The first suitable chronometers were built Harrison back in 1744. This method was as follows. When setting sail from a port whose longitude is known, they use a properly running chronometer, which shows the time of the starting point. While on the open sea, travelers determined the local time by observing the celestial bodies. By comparing the local time with the chronometer reading, the time difference was found. This time difference is the difference in longitude of the starting point and the location. Using this method in 1843, the longitude of the Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory was determined with great accuracy (up to a hundredth of a second).

Position of a point on the earth's surface

So, the position of a point on the earth's surface determined by longitude and latitude. The size of the meridian arc from the earth's equator to a given place determines its latitude. The magnitude of the arc of the equator from the prime (principal) meridian to the meridian of a given place determines its longitude. The main, or prime, meridian is considered to be the one that passes through the famous Greenwich Astronomical Observatory, located in England, not far from London. To determine the longitude of any point on Earth, it is enough to know the clock readings in this place and in Greenwich at the same moment. This is based on the fact that the difference in clock readings at the same moment in any two places is equal to the difference in the longitudes of these places. The entire circle, as we know, is 360 degrees, which corresponds to 24 hours; One hour corresponds to 15 degrees, and one minute of time corresponds to 1/4 degree, or 15 minutes of arc. So, for example, the difference in clock readings for the same moment in time in Leningrad and Greenwich is 2 hours and 1 minute. Therefore, Leningrad is 30 degrees and 15 minutes east of Greenwich. Or, as they say, Leningrad has 30 degrees and 15 minutes east longitude. Latitude is the arc of the meridian from the earth's equator to a specific place. Or, in other words, the latitude of a point on the earth's surface is equal to the angular height of the pole above the horizon. Therefore, to determine the latitude of the ship’s location at sea, a series of astronomical observations were carried out. These observations were usually made using a goniometer instrument called sextant. During the day, this instrument is used to measure the altitude, and at night, the altitude of the Moon, Polaris or some other star. Due to the invention of radio, determining longitude at sea is much easier.

International Time Commission

A special International Time Commission, which conventionally divided the entire globe into nine zones. A special scheme has been developed, mandatory for all countries of the world, for transmitting precise, so-called rhythmic, time signals based on observations of stars. Rhythmic time signals were transmitted several times a day by radio from nine of the most powerful radio stations at various hours of Greenwich time. The most famous of these radio stations were A.Rugby in England and the Comintern station in Moscow. Therefore, no matter where the ship was on the globe, it, using radio, from at least one of nine stations, received an exact time signal and, therefore, knew the clock reading for the main meridian at that moment. Then, using astronomical observations, the exact local time was determined and, from the difference between these two times, the longitude of the ship’s location.

About the movement of continents

Famous geologist Wegener once suggested that continents constantly several are moving. This movement, in his opinion, is so significant that it can be detected with the help of astronomical observations in a relatively short period of time. It followed that the longitude of a place also changes, and this change can be noticed over a relatively short period of time. The assumption made by Wegener aroused great interest among specialists. A commission of representatives of the International Astronomical and International Geodetic Unions developed a project to determine world longitudes by radio every few years. This determination of longitudes was first carried out in 1926. Three groups of observatories were chosen as the vertices of the main testing area. The first group is in Algeria (Africa), Zi Ka Wei (China) and San Diego (California); the second group - in Greenwich, Tokyo, Vancouver and Ottawa (Canada); the third group is Manilla (Philippines), Honolulu (Sandwich Islands), San Diego and Washington. These observatories had connections with a number of observatories conducting work in the service of time. At the same time, longitudinal observations were carried out by many observatories and temporary stations. The work was carried out successfully. Radio signals were received over vast distances. For example, radio signals from stations in Bordeaux (France) were received in America and Australia. Longitudes were determined with exceptionally high accuracy, and the error in closing the main polygon did not exceed 0.007 seconds. In 1933, this enterprise was repeated on an even larger scale, and the technical level of the work carried out was even higher than in 1926. As a result, it turned out that the assumption made by Wegener was not completely confirmed. If there is a secular displacement of America relative to Europe, then its value, in any case, cannot exceed three centimeters per year. It is not without interest, however, to note that from a comparison of the reception of time signals carried out systematically by observatories in Europe and America, a noticeable (about 18 meters) fluctuation in longitudes was discovered with a period of approximately 11 years, almost coinciding with the period of sunspots.

If you want to find out where and what vessels are located or find the location of a specific vessel in real time, then select the desired quadrant on the map and view the movement of vessels. To find out what kind of ship it is and who it belongs to, just click on the marker you are interested in on the ships map.

More options (if the map above is not available)

→ riverships.ru

Information on Russian river steamers (with photos).

→ shipspotting.com

→ shipsandharbours.com

Find the ship and see its photo.

→ cfmc.ru/positioning

Information about the location of training ships.
Information on the location of vessels is provided based on data from the industry monitoring system (OSM). The positioning time is set to UTC.

→ maritime.com.pl

Information on Polish courts.
Quote:
“The Maritime Shipping section consists of the following modules: Maritime Agencies, Vessel Catalog, List of Regular Lines.
This section contains a list of Polish ships in service with their full characteristics. In addition to detailed technical data, photographs, illustrations and specifications can be found here. It is possible to find all the information for any vessel by specifying its name, type of vessel, ship owner or technical parameters.”

→ vesseltracker.com

If you want to see a photo of the ship and brief information about the ship.

→ marinetraffic.com

Website to monitor the vessel in real time

→ containershipregister.nl
search by container name. You can search for a ship by name, by IMO, etc.

→ world-ships.com
In general, search across all courts in the world, but registration is required.

→ solentwaters.co.uk
You can find a ship in real time by name.
Overall a great site.

→ digital-seas.com
The search contains a lot of information on the vessel, photos, descriptions, and upon registration, access to the full database.

→ digital-seas.com
shows a photo of the vessel, brief information about it, current location, ports of call..
registration required

View information and photos on the ships of the shipping company MSC Ships.
Photo super quality!!!