All MarineTraffic users have free access to vessels' positions as recorded by our network of terrestrial AIS-receiving stations. However, the typical range of them is limited to a certain distance. Thus, if a vessel is sailing in a remote area it may appear to be Out of Range. In such cases Satellite-AIS comes as an ideal supplement as it can help you track a vessel even when it is sailing in the middle of the ocean.
In order to enable Satellite-AIS tracking, you may consider one of our Plans or an Add-on, depending on your business needs:
the Sat Flexible Service will allow you to get undelayed global coverage for the number of vessels you choose
the Professional Plan besides the numerous features included will allow you to track 1 Vessel of your choice via satellite
The Enterprise Plan will allow you to track unlimited vessels via satellite, and more features
Upon purchasing an SAT product, make sure to activate undelayed satellite tracking for the vessels of interest. Click here to learn how.
Note: Satellite-AIS tracking may be less effective if the subject vessel is equipped with a Class B AIS transponder. Such units are smaller, simpler, and lower cost compared to Class A transponders but their signal is weaker making it harder for satellites to pick up AIS messages coming from them.