What AIS transmits
AIS messages can include maritime mobile service identity, vessel name, position, course, speed, navigational status, dimensions, destination and estimated time of arrival. Some fields are entered manually and may be incomplete or wrong.
Terrestrial and satellite reception
Coastal receivers capture signals within radio range. Satellite AIS extends coverage offshore but must handle message collisions and revisit intervals. Commercial providers combine multiple receiver networks and apply cleaning, identity resolution and enrichment.
Why tracks contain gaps
Coverage, antenna condition, congestion, equipment settings, transmission class, deliberate switching-off, spoofing, interference and data-provider processing can all create missing or misleading points. A gap is a signal for investigation, not automatic proof of wrongdoing.
Operational uses
Teams use AIS for ETA monitoring, fleet visibility, port-call planning, route review, congestion analysis, sanctions screening support, cargo-flow estimation and exception alerts. The best systems combine AIS with weather, port, vessel, cargo and company records.
How Zeaclub should position AIS
Zea Intelligence and Zea IoT can translate vessel data into operational actions: late-arrival alerts, port-call task changes, deviation review, performance context and stakeholder updates. Zeaclub should be clear that it may integrate specialist data providers rather than claiming to own the entire global collection network.
Frequently asked questions
Is AIS the same as GPS?
No. GPS can provide position to the vessel, while AIS broadcasts vessel identity and navigation-related messages over radio using position inputs.
Can AIS be switched off?
Equipment may be switched off in limited safety or security circumstances under applicable rules, but unexplained gaps require context.
How accurate is an AIS ETA?
The transmitted ETA may be manually entered. Analytics platforms can generate separate arrival forecasts using track, speed, weather and port conditions.