Accurate and timely vessel tracking data is the backbone of the maritime industry because it makes shipping operations safer, more efficient, and more effective.
At Lloyd's List Intelligence, we understand this vital need deeply. Our commitment to vessel tracking began with manual reporting through Lloyd's Shipping List, a process that provided essential insights for maritime operations.
From there, we moved on to create our own advanced terrestrial AIS network, transforming vessel tracking into a more precise, real-time system that supports the industry’s evolving needs.
In this latest instalment of our Data Differentiators blog series, we explore the history of AIS tracking, our role in its adoption, and our future vision for enhanced data coverage.
A brief history of ship tracking
Tracking vessel movements used to be a resource-intensive and fragmented process. Industry professionals had to rely on traditional shipping reports that only covered specific jurisdictions, leaving many details shrouded in uncertainty.
During this time, Lloyd’s List Intelligence, in partnership with the Lloyd’s Agency Network, played a crucial role in compiling detailed reports on vessel movements, including port arrivals, departures, and other critical data.
These efforts, complemented by our work with various partners, established us as one of the few shipping intelligence businesses in the industry.
The introduction of AIS
In 2000, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) became mandatory for ships under the International Maritime Organisation's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. This followed years of discussions and trials aimed at addressing the limitations of traditional shipping reports.
Initially, AIS was a short-range system covering only 30-40 miles from ports. Its purpose was to provide ship crews, masters, port agents, and rescue centers with a continuous picture of the traffic around them, helping them manage traffic flow and avoid potential issues.
However, as the need for safety and maritime trade insights grew, so did AIS technology. The rise of satellite providers and advancements in stronger, more compact antennas have enabled AIS to achieve global coverage. In the past five years, it has also become crucial for identifying breaches of sanctions regulations.
Today, AIS data has become crucial for providing validated insights that help protect ship crews transiting through conflict areas and detecting anomalies in ship movements, such as congestion, re-routing, and loss of signal.
Playing our part as AIS pioneers
Our team at Lloyd’s List Intelligence, led by our colleagues Daryl Williamson and Paul Foley (among others), were pioneers in AIS advancement, driven by a commitment to enhancing maritime safety and intelligence.
Back in 2006, Daryl, Paul, and the team began building our AIS network from the ground up. They worked closely with agents to pinpoint the best locations near ports, quickly establishing us as a market leader.
Initially, we were manually ordering and assembling receivers until suppliers started providing pre-built units, which made the process more efficient.
Today, our extensive terrestrial AIS network captures granular vessel port calls to berth level in over 5,500 ports, including the world’s top 1,000 largest trading ports for commercial trade. We're also expanding to smaller ports and those growing in usage and popularity.
But that’s not all. Leveraging advanced data analysis and machine learning, we can identify gaps in AIS coverage and assess whether they’re linked to risk. This allows us to flag voyage risks in near-real time for our customers.
What makes our AIS data superior?
Our AIS data is more accurate and reliable than other providers because of our extensive AIS network and our partnership with Lloyd’s Agency Network.
Our extensive AIS network
We own, operate, and maintain our proprietary AIS network, which spans thousands of trading ports worldwide and consistently boasts an uptime of over 95%.
Our stations are strategically placed in critical locations, including major shipping routes and conflict zones, ensuring thorough coverage and continuous signal monitoring.
Our partnership with the Lloyd’s Agency Network
To further enhance the accuracy and reliability of our AIS data, we collaborate with agents from the Lloyd’s Agency Network (LAN), who provide an additional layer of human validation.
Combining global reach with local expertise, LAN agents provide real-time insights and on-the-ground verification. They also work with us to continuously measure and monitor the uptime of our AIS stations. Regular health reports allow us to promptly address issues such as weather conditions or power outages, so that our network uptime is as high as possible.
What’s our vision for the future?
At Lloyd’s List Intelligence, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries by improving our coverage and accuracy even further.
Beyond vessel data, we’re exploring advancements such as emissions tracking and VDES (VHF Data Exchange System), as well as new technologies such as satellite imagery, to provide even more comprehensive insights.
Benefit from world-class AIS data today
As a historic and current market leader in AIS adoption, we continue to set the standard for accuracy, reliability, and comprehensive vessel tracking. To find out more about what makes our AIS data cutting-edge, visit our webpage.