Last updated: 22 October 2026

Want to know where a ship is right now, or when your container will arrive? Live ship tracking is free, easy and surprisingly addictive. Families use it to follow loved ones on cargo ship voyages, importers use it to plan deliveries, and ship enthusiasts watch the world’s fleets move in real time.

How ship tracking works: AIS

Almost every large ship carries an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder. It broadcasts the ship’s:

• Name, IMO number and MMSI number
• Position, speed and course
• Destination and estimated arrival time, entered by the crew
• Ship type and size

Coastal receivers and satellites pick up these signals, and tracking websites plot them on a live map. Near coasts, positions update every few seconds. In mid-ocean they rely on satellite AIS and can be less frequent.

How to track a ship step by step

1. Find the ship’s name or IMO number. Freighter passengers get this from their booking confirmation, and importers from their booking or bill of lading.
2. Open a ship tracking website or app. Popular options include MarineTraffic, VesselFinder and MyShipTracking. Most offer free basic tracking.
3. Search by name or IMO. IMO numbers are unique and avoid confusion between ships with similar names.
4. Check the details: current position, speed, destination, ETA and recent port calls.
5. Set alerts (sometimes a paid feature) for arrival or departure.

How to track a container

If you are shipping goods or household belongings, you usually care about your container, not just the ship.

Container tracking shows events such as gate in, loaded on vessel, departed, transhipped, discharged and gate out. Combine it with live ship tracking to see exactly where your box is at sea. See our sea freight transit times guide.

Tracking a cargo ship voyage as a passenger

If someone you love is travelling as a freighter passenger, share the ship’s name and IMO number with family before you leave. They can follow the voyage on a tracking map, which is reassuring when Wi-Fi on board is limited. Read Wi-Fi on cargo ships.

Why a ship might “disappear” from the map

• Out of receiver range in remote ocean areas with limited satellite coverage
• AIS switched off, which is allowed in some high-risk areas for security reasons
• Data delays on free plans
• Errors in the destination or ETA typed in by the crew

Other useful tracking tools

• Port websites list expected arrivals and departures. Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway publish vessel schedules.
• Shipping line schedules show planned rotations weeks ahead.
• Ship-spotting communities share photos and news of ships in port.

Frequently asked questions