AIS Vessel Tracks 2015

Vessels traveling in U.S. coastal and inland waters frequently use Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) for navigation safety. The U.S. Coast Guard collects AIS records using shore-side antennas. These records have been filtered and converted from a series of points to a set of track lines for each vessel. Vessels can have one or more tracks of any length, and can be separated by gaps due to intermittent loss of the AIS signal. Tracks will not necessarily start or stop at a well defined port, or when a vessel is not in motion. Vessel tracks are an efficient and spatially unbiased indicator of vessel traffic.

To support ocean planning activities pursuant to the Executive Order Regarding the Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States, the Energy Policy Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act.

The native coordinate system for this layer is NAD 1983 (ESPG: 4269). Please note: all MarineCadastre.gov data served by the NOAA Office for Coastal Management and hosted through Esri REST services are in the WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere (EPSG: 3857) projection.

NOAA makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding the availability, quality, accuracy, content, completeness or suitability for the user's needs of such information. The services, information, and data made available on the Marine Cadastre web site are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. These data are intended for coastal and ocean use planning. Not for navigation. https://www.marinecadastre.gov/about/disclaimer.html

NOAA makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding the availability, quality, accuracy, content, completeness or suitability for the user's needs of such information. The services, information, and data made available on the Marine Cadastre web site are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. These data are intended for coastal and ocean use planning. Not for navigation. https://www.marinecadastre.gov/about/disclaimer.html

All known records acquired from the Nationwide Automatic Identification System which includes approximately 58 U.S. ports and 11 coastal areas out to 24 nautical miles offshore. For further information on vessel reporting requirements and participation in the AIS, see carriage requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 33. Significant null values exist in some fields principally as a result of vessel operator practices.

Content was acquired from original sources – no additional testing was done to cross reference or confirm otherwise the field or geometry values from other sources. All known records acquired from the Nationwide Automatic Identification System which includes approximately 58 U.S. ports and 11 coastal areas out to 24 nautical miles offshore. For further information on vessel reporting requirements and participation in the AIS, see carriage requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 33. Significant null values exist in some fields principally as a result of vessel operator practices.