MarineTraffic operates several thousand AIS stations worldwide, managed and maintained by our dedicated partners. Together, these stations form a global network that is the foundation of MarineTraffic. Without each individual station and the support of our community, MarineTraffic would not be what it is today. In this article, we take a closer look at a single station, show you how to find it on our platform, and explain the displayed statistics.

Each of our stations that transmit AIS data has its own station page, identified by a unique station ID. On this page, operators can check if their station is receiving data and how well the coverage is. This information helps monitor the stability of data transmission and analyze any interruptions in detail. Additionally, the station page is a useful tool for optimizing the station's performance. By making small adjustments, such as raising the antenna or relocating it, improvements can be easily tracked. Most of these station pages are publicly visible and can, therefore, also be viewed by other users.

There are two simple ways to find other stations on MarineTraffic: through the station database or the Live Map. If you want to quickly access and manage your own station without searching through the map or database, here’s how you can do it efficiently.

When you're on the Live Map, you can enable stations by selecting them under "Layers" and "Points of Interest" in the menu on the right side (see the image above). After enabling this option, you’ll see colored pins on the map (green, yellow, and red) that indicate the locations of receiving stations.

Clicking on one of these pins will provide you with more information about the station, including its operator, coverage, and other initial statistics.

To access detailed information about the station, click the "Details & Statistics" button in the lower left corner. This will take you to the station's page with more comprehensive details.

Additionally, you'll find two blue buttons that let you view "Vessels in Range" and the "Coverage Map" of the station on the Live Map. You can activate these by clicking the respective buttons. To deactivate these views, right-click on the map and select "Exit Stations Coverage Map."

On the left side of the menu, you’ll find the "Stations" section, with "Database" as a submenu option. Clicking on this will take you to the station database, where you can view all the visible stations listed.

You have several options for organizing the list. For instance, you can sort the individual columns by clicking the column name or using the "Columns" button on the right to show or hide additional columns. Additionally, you can apply a filter by clicking "Add Filter" on the left side, allowing you to display only specific stations.

To access detailed information about the station, click on the blue Place-Station Name.

The station detail page is an important tool for partners and users who want to check the coverage in their area. This page displays various information and functionalities. The description here reflects the view of a station partner, so some information, such as the station ID, may only be visible to the partner and not to others.

In the upper left section, you will find the basic information about the station, such as the name, the station ID (for partners), and general details like the station's position, elevation above sea level, the operator, and the equipment used. This information is only available if it has been provided and documented by the partner.

Under page selection at the left, you can look at only the specific statistics that you have included in this overview as well, with no difference.

The station ID is a unique number assigned to the station when it was created and is different from the number in the URL of the station page. The Station ID is the crucial number for identifying your station and supporting you. The number in the URL of the station page is just a different number and does not serve for the station’s identification or association.

The mini-map on the station page shows the area covered during the last 3 days (Coverage), represented by the blue squares. It also displays the Class A and Class B positions received by the station during the last 3 hours. You can view this data in full or individually by selecting "Show All," "Coverage," or "Position" at the top.

Clicking "View on Live Map" will take you directly to the station's location on the live map.

An exciting feature is the ability to review statistics over an extended period. This allows you to check coverage, identify disruptions, and improve station performance by tracking changes directly.

The "Current Status & Statistics" and "Period Statistics" sections provide an overview of the current online status and a summary of the statistics. You can see how long the station has been online and how coverage has changed over time. It is normal for statistics to vary due to changing weather conditions or seasonal changes (e.g., summer and winter), both in the short term and over longer periods.

The "AIS Message Type Statistics" are not often given much attention but provide valuable insights and a deeper understanding of AIS. This section displays the different AIS message types, of which there are 27 in total.

Some of these types contain static data, such as the ship's name or dimensions, which does not change and is thus transmitted every 6 minutes or less often.

In contrast, position messages are sent much more frequently.

Here, you can find an overview of the information contained in these two types.

Now let's look at the graphs displayed here. They are interactive, allowing for detailed analysis. When you hover your mouse over a specific area, you will see the data for that moment. By clicking and dragging the mouse over a specific time period, you can zoom in on the graphs and get a more detailed view of what happened.

The reception graphs display the key information and can be adjusted using the selection options at the top. You can view data for either the past week (the last 7 days) or the entire year.

You can see the "average and max reception distance" your station can detect vessels, providing a good overview of its typical range. Additionally, over-reach values are displayed, allowing you to set new records.

Under “Received Vessels & Positions”, you can see how many different ships the station has detected and the total number of positions received.

In the “Area Covered in Square km” section, you can track changes in the area covered by your station. This is particularly interesting over a year, as it clearly shows the difference between summer and winter coverage.

The “AIS Message Frequency Graph” provides an overview of the volume of received data, differentiated by Class A and Class B messages, as well as the total number. It gives you a clear idea of how many messages the station receives. The daily graph is particularly useful for calculating the number of messages received per day.

In the “Coverage Per Ship Class Graph”, you can see from which directions most ships are received and where the reception range is greatest. The data is differentiated by Class A and Class B. For example, it shows that smaller vessels are often found closer to the coast.

The criteria that define the operational status of each AIS-receiving Station are as follows:

The Status is visible on various MarineTraffic spots, such as the Station Details page, the Stations Database, or the Live Map.