ShipPlotter displays complete information about ships that are within VHF range of your position using the Universal Automatic Identification System (AIS).

AIS is a system that ships use to communicate their positions to each other as part of the global maritime safety system. From December 2004, all ships over 300 tons must carry an AIS system which broadcasts information about the ship to any suitably equipped receiver. AIS uses very short bursts of high speed data on two VHF channels in the marine band. The two frequencies used are 161.975 (Marine ch 87) and 162.025 (ch 88) MHz. Ships broadcast their identity, position, course, speed and destination so that other ships can take account of their movements. Using a low cost radio scanner tuned to one or other of these channels and ShipPlotter software running on your PC, you will be able to see a radar-like real-time map of all the large ships manoeuvring in your area together with information about their destination, estimated time of arrival and even the dimensions of each vessel.

For an actual screed dump of Filey Bay, see below.

ShipPlotter Features

• Signal mode - In Signal Mode, ShipPlotter displays the raw digital signals on your PC screen in a diagnostic display which helps you to set up the system.
• Message mode - In Message Mode, ShipPlotter displays each decoded message in plain language on your PC screen.
• Ship mode - In Ship Mode, ShipPlotter displays each decoded message in plain language on your PC screen. There is one line in the display for each ship. Depending on which message formats have been received from the ship, the information may contain the MSSI number of the ship, its name, its destination and the expected date and time of arrival, its length, beam and draught, and the latest position report received from the ship.
• Chart mode - In Chart Mode, ShipPlotter displays the position and identification of each ship on a chart of the area. ShipPlotter comes with a general purpose world map but you can add your own maps to ShipPlotter simply by digitizing a chart to create a BMP or JPG graphic file and calibrating the chart using tools built in to ShipPlotter. ShipPlotter can also read BSB format marine charts provided that your system performance, memory, etc. can handle the size of the chart.
• Ship details - In chart mode, if you right click on one of the ships displayed in the chart, a pop up window (right) displays all the data received about the ship you have selected. If you are connected to the internet, there is a Search button that will access the ITU ship callsign database to discover even more details about the ship including its port of registry.
• Message log - ShipPlotter can store all messages received and decoded in a text file for later analysis. It can also store messages in formats that are not decoded, in a hex format for subsequent decoding.
• Radar view - ShipPlotter can display the position and identification of ships on a circular display centred on the user's position, which can be a dynamic position based on positions from a connected GPS receiver. This radar display can be either North Up, or Heading Up.
• Serial input - ShipPlotter can decode messages received from a dedicated AIS receiver using NMEA serial format.
• Serial output - ShipPlotter can output demodulated messages to any AIS-compatible serial plotter using NMEA serial format.
• GPS input - ShipPlotter can include position data from a local GPS receiver on the displayed chart and can automatically centre the chart on the current position.
• Message sharing - ShipPlotter can use the Internet to share your messages with others so that all see the totality of messages received by participating users.
• Local sharing - ShipPlotter can share received messages with other instances of the program running on machines over a local area network.
• Automatic chart selection - If you have a selection of charts of your coverage area, ShipPlotter can automatically choose the appropriate chart to display any chosen ship of interest.
• Multiple sound card support - ShipPlotter can choose between multiple soundcards if you have more than one. This means that, subject to processing power, you can run multiple instances of ShipPlotter processing audio from more than one source.

Requirements to run ShipPlotter

• Pentium level PC running Win98SE/2k/XP with compatible sound card. The real time processing of the AIS messages is processor intensive and requires a machine of reasonable performance. To display large charts, you may also find that you require a surprising amount of memory.
• VHF band radio receiver tuned to one of the AIS channels. The receiver output should be taken from a discriminator tap with low phase and amplitude distortion. Among others, WinRadio general coverage digital receivers are ideal for this purpose.
• If your receiver does not have a discriminator output, have a look at Rene's wonderful resource http://www.discriminator.nl/index-en.html which lists dozens of makes and models of receiver with details of how to connect to the discriminator. This is really the secret to successful AIS decoding.

Download ShipPlotter

ShipPlotter can be downloaded freely and comes in a self-extracting ZIP file which automatically installs itself. The file size is a modest 1.5 Mb.

• Request to download Shipplotter now.

Registration of ShipPlotter

ShipPlotter can be freely downloaded and used for 21 days. After that time it must be registered. Registration can be done swiftly and securely on-line and costs only Euro €25 (plus VAT for EU residents). We strongly recommend that you ensure that ShipPlotter performs to your satisfaction before registering.

• Request to Register Shipplotter now.

ShipPlotter discussion group

There is a lively discussion forum for ShipPlotter users where users exchange hints, tips, charts and suggestions.

 

Charts for ShipPlotter

To get the best out of ShipPlotter you need charts on which to plot the traffic that you receive. Thanks to the generous effort of Hal Mueller at Mobile Geographics, you can easily generate a personalised chart of your area by visiting Hal's splendid website.

• Mobile Geographics chart generator.

FAQ file for ShipPlotter

If you have any questions relating to AIS or ShipPlotter, please e-mail me now

 

First Disclaimer

There are considerable variations in the legislation concerning radio reception in the different administrations around the world. It is your responsibility to determine whether or not your local administration permits the reception of AIS messages from ships. It is specifically forbidden to use ShipPlotter for any illegal purpose whatsoever. The existence and the availability of ShipPlotter is not to be construed as an incitement to commit any unlawful act. It is for use only in those states and regions where such use is permitted.

Second Disclaimer

If you carry ShipPlotter on board any vessel you must understand that, while ShipPlotter may provide you with some potentially useful information about some of the ships in your vicinity, COAA does not make any warranties whatsoever that ShipPlotter is fit or appropriate for any application, including but not limited to, applications where the safety of life is at stake. On the contrary, your primary means of navigation, collision avoidance and seamanship in general must place no reliance whatsoever on ShipPlotter or any of the data that it generates. Not all vessels carry AIS equipment; not all vessels that carry it can be relied upon to have it operational; the radio receiver to which ShipPlotter is connected may not be delivering all messages in a decodable form; ShipPlotter may not decode messages correctly; ShipPlotter code is reliability tested to an extent that is adequate for entertainment and educational use but is neither warranted nor tested for any operational use.

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