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MarineTraffic
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MarineTraffic

Greek crowd-sourced AIS vessel-tracking platform; one of three data sources confirming sanctioned Hormuz transits on blockade day one.

Last refreshed: 14 April 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics

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Common Questions
What is MarineTraffic and how does it track ships?
MarineTraffic is a Greek platform founded in 2007 that aggregates AIS position data from a worldwide network of volunteer shore stations and satellites, giving near real-time coverage of over 400,000 vessels globally.Source: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/about-us
How did MarineTraffic confirm the Hormuz tanker transits in April 2026?
MarineTraffic AIS data, alongside Kpler and LSEG, confirmed that the sanctioned Chinese tankers Rich Starry and Murlikishan transited the Strait of Hormuz unchallenged on 13-14 April 2026, the first full day of CENTCOM blockade enforcement.Source: /t/iran-conflict-2026/68/sanctioned-tankers-slip-hormuz-on-day-one
Is MarineTraffic data reliable for tracking sanctioned vessels?
MarineTraffic is widely cited by journalists, regulators, and governments for sanctions monitoring, though AIS data can be spoofed or disabled. Corroboration with satellite AIS and other platforms such as Kpler increases confidence.Source: https://www.marinetraffic.com

Background

MarineTraffic is a Greek technology company operating one of the world's largest real-time vessel-tracking platforms. Founded in 2007 by Dimitris Lekkas at the University of the Aegean, it pioneered a crowd-sourced model in which volunteers operate shore-based AIS (Automatic Identification System) receiver stations worldwide. The platform today covers more than 1,000 ports and provides live position data for over 400,000 vessels, drawing on a global network of receiver stations supplemented by satellite AIS for open-ocean coverage.

The platform is used by port authorities, freight brokers, commodity traders, journalists, and researchers to track ship movements in near real-time. Its commercial intelligence products — covering vessel ETAs, historical voyages, and fleet analytics — compete with Kpler and LSEG Refinitiv as primary data sources for global shipping visibility. MarineTraffic data is also cited by governments and international organisations monitoring sanctions compliance and maritime security incidents.

In the 2026 Iran blockade, MarineTraffic was one of three independent sources — alongside Kpler and LSEG — that confirmed the transit of US-sanctioned Chinese tankers Rich Starry and Murlikishan through the Strait of Hormuz on 13-14 April, corroborating the 86% single-day drop in legitimate traffic on day one of CENTCOM enforcement.

More questions
Who owns MarineTraffic?
MarineTraffic was founded in 2007 at the University of the Aegean in Greece, where it is headquartered. It operates as a commercial platform while retaining a large volunteer-driven data collection network.Source: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/about-us