{"id":99743,"date":"2026-10-22T19:53:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T19:53:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/how-to-track-a-ship"},"modified":"2026-10-22T19:54:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T19:54:04","slug":"how-to-track-a-ship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/how-to-track-a-ship","title":{"rendered":"Come tracciare una nave: guida al monitoraggio in tempo reale delle navi e dei container (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<head><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n            \"headline\": \"How to Track a Ship: Live Vessel Tracking and Container Tracking Explained (2026)\",\n            \"description\": \"How to track a ship or container in real time: AIS ship trackers, container numbers, bills of lading and carrier tracking explained, with free tools to use.\",\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/how-to-track-a-ship\",\n            \"image\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/how-to-track-a-ship-cargoholidays-1024x576.jpg\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-10-22\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-10-22\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How can I track a ship for free?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Use a free AIS tracking site or app such as MarineTraffic, VesselFinder or MyShipTracking, and search by ship name or IMO number.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How do I track my container?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Enter your container number, bill of lading or booking number on the shipping line's tracking page.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What is an IMO number?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"A unique seven-digit identifier given to most ocean-going ships. It stays the same even if the ship changes name.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Why can't I see a ship's position?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"It may be out of receiver range, have AIS switched off for security, or be shown with a delay on free plans.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Can I track a cargo ship I'm travelling on?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Yes. Share the ship's name and IMO number so family can follow your voyage.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>\n<\/head><div class=\"ch-post\"><p class=\"ch-updated\">Ultimo aggiornamento: 22 ottobre 2026<\/p><p><strong>Want to know where a ship is right now, or when your container will arrive?<\/strong> 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&rsquo;s fleets move in real time.<\/p><h2>How ship tracking works: AIS<\/h2><p>Almost every large ship carries an <strong>Automatic Identification System (AIS)<\/strong> transponder. It broadcasts the ship&rsquo;s:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Name, IMO number and MMSI number<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Position, speed and course<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Destination and estimated arrival time<\/strong>, entered by the crew<\/li><li><strong>Ship type and size<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>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.<\/p><figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_277741774-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"Aerial view of a cargo vessel near a seaport\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Aerial view of a cargo vessel near a seaport\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">AIS transmits a ship&rsquo;s position, speed and course every few seconds.<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>How to track a ship step by step<\/h2><ol><li><strong>Find the ship&rsquo;s name or IMO number.<\/strong> Freighter passengers get this from their booking confirmation, and importers from their booking or bill of lading.<\/li><li><strong>Open a ship tracking website or app.<\/strong> Popular options include MarineTraffic, VesselFinder and MyShipTracking. Most offer free basic tracking.<\/li><li><strong>Search by name or IMO.<\/strong> IMO numbers are unique and avoid confusion between ships with similar names.<\/li><li><strong>Check the details:<\/strong> current position, speed, destination, ETA and recent port calls.<\/li><li><strong>Set alerts<\/strong> (sometimes a paid feature) for arrival or departure.<\/li><\/ol><h2>How to track a container<\/h2><p>If you are shipping goods or household belongings, you usually care about your <strong>container<\/strong>, not just the ship.<\/p><div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>What you have<\/th><th>Where to use it<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Container number (4 letters + 7 digits, e.g. ABCU1234567)<\/td><td>The shipping line&rsquo;s tracking page<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bill of lading number<\/td><td>The shipping line or your forwarder&rsquo;s portal<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Booking number<\/td><td>The shipping line&rsquo;s website<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p>Container tracking shows events such as <strong>gate in, loaded on vessel, departed, transhipped, discharged and gate out<\/strong>. Combine it with live ship tracking to see exactly where your box is at sea. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/sea-freight-transit-times-from-uk\/\">sea freight transit times guide<\/a>.<\/p><figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_289566284-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"Container ship in a busy harbour at night\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Container ship in a busy harbour at night\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Container tracking shows when your box is loaded, sailed and discharged.<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Tracking a cargo ship voyage as a passenger<\/h2><p>If someone you love is travelling as a freighter passenger, share the ship&rsquo;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 <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wifi-on-cargo-ships\/\">Wi-Fi sulle navi da carico<\/a>.<\/p><h2>Why a ship might &ldquo;disappear&rdquo; from the map<\/h2><ul><li><strong>Out of receiver range<\/strong> in remote ocean areas with limited satellite coverage<\/li><li><strong>AIS switched off<\/strong>, which is allowed in some high-risk areas for security reasons<\/li><li><strong>Data delays<\/strong> on free plans<\/li><li><strong>Errors<\/strong> in the destination or ETA typed in by the crew<\/li><\/ul><h2>Other useful tracking tools<\/h2><ul><li><strong>Port websites<\/strong> list expected arrivals and departures. Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway publish vessel schedules.<\/li><li><strong>Shipping line schedules<\/strong> show planned rotations weeks ahead.<\/li><li><strong>Ship-spotting communities<\/strong> share photos and news of ships in port.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Domande frequenti<\/h2><div class=\"ch-faq\"><h3>How can I track a ship for free?<\/h3><p>Use a free AIS tracking site or app such as MarineTraffic, VesselFinder or MyShipTracking, and search by ship name or IMO number.<\/p><h3>How do I track my container?<\/h3><p>Enter your container number, bill of lading or booking number on the shipping line&rsquo;s tracking page.<\/p><h3>What is an IMO number?<\/h3><p>A unique seven-digit identifier given to most ocean-going ships. It stays the same even if the ship changes name.<\/p><h3>Why can&rsquo;t I see a ship&rsquo;s position?<\/h3><p>It may be out of receiver range, have AIS switched off for security, or be shown with a delay on free plans.<\/p><h3>Can I track a cargo ship I&rsquo;m travelling on?<\/h3><p>Yes. Share the ship&rsquo;s name and IMO number so family can follow your voyage.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ch-cta\"><strong>Become the ship on the map<\/strong><p>Sail as a passenger on a container ship and let your family track the voyage.<\/p><a class=\"ch-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/enquire-for-a-cargo-cruise\/\">Request a voyage quote &rarr;<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<style>\n.ch-post{font-family:inherit;line-height:1.7;color:#1f2937;max-width:820px;margin:0 auto}\n.ch-post h2{font-size:1.6em;margin:1.8em 0 .6em;color:#0b2545;border-bottom:3px solid #f5a623;padding-bottom:.25em}\n.ch-post h3{font-size:1.15em;margin:1.4em 0 .3em;color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post p{margin:0 0 1em}\n.ch-post ul,.ch-post ol{margin:0 0 1.2em 1.3em}\n.ch-post li{margin:.35em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-updated{font-size:.9em;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-table{overflow-x:auto;margin:1.2em 0 1.6em}\n.ch-post table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;font-size:.95em}\n.ch-post th{background:#0b2545;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:.65em .8em}\n.ch-post td{padding:.6em .8em;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;vertical-align:top}\n.ch-post tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#f6f8fb}\n.ch-post .ch-faq{background:#f6f8fb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1em 0 2em}\n.ch-post .ch-faq h3{margin-top:1em}\n.ch-post .ch-cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2545,#13315c);color:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:1.6em 1.8em;margin:2.2em 0;text-align:center}\n.ch-post .ch-cta strong{display:block;font-size:1.35em;margin-bottom:.4em;color:#fff}\n.ch-post .ch-cta p{color:#dbe4f0;margin:.2em 0 1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-btn{display:inline-block;background:#f5a623;color:#0b2545 !important;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;padding:.8em 1.6em;border-radius:999px}\n.ch-post .ch-btn:hover{background:#ffbb45}\n.ch-post em{color:#4b5563}\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Come tracciare una nave o un container in tempo reale: spiegazione dei sistemi di tracciamento AIS, dei numeri dei container, delle polizze di carico e del tracciamento dei vettori, con strumenti gratuiti da utilizzare.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[356,1030,118],"tags":[1595,1579,1596,1576,1594],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99743"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99743"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99744,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99743\/revisions\/99744"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99743"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=99743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}