Equasis taps MarineTraffic for vessel positioning data

Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel tracking service MarineTraffic has begun supplying geographical positioning data to the Equasis project, according to a statement from the company.    Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel tracking service MarineTraffic has joined the Equasis project as a provider of geographical positioning data, according to a statement from the company.
   The open source tracking firm, now a member of the Equasis board, provides free real-time information on global ports and ship movements from over 2,000 AIS stations located in more than 165 countries around the world.
   Through an existing partnership with mobile tracking technology firm Orbcomm, MarineTraffic also offers a satellite tracking facility for vessels on the open ocean or otherwise out of range of coastal AIS stations.
   The Equasis project, a European Commission initiative started in 2000 to make ship safety information more widely available, makes information including a vessel’s age, ownership, management, flag, classification society, P&I club and recent geographical positions available through its free online database.
   “We are very excited to have joined Equasis and look forward to supporting the project through supply of vessel position information and promoting the service on social media,” Argyris Stasinakis, partner at MarineTraffic, said of the agreement.
   “We are supplying high quality, position data collected using our global AIS network which will be updated on the Equasis website on a weekly basis,” added Stasinakis. “In the future, Equasis users will also have access to vessel pictures provided by MarineTraffic from our extensive vessel photo database.
   “MarineTraffic’s vision is to make the maritime ecosystem more efficient and transparent. The Equasis project was established with a very similar vision – we are delighted to be partnering with such a likeminded initiative.”