VesselFinder

Real-time ship tracking via terrestrial and satellite AIS — affordable alternative to MarineTraffic with global coverage, 90-day history on top tier, and no-account browsing.

Newsgathering

Adequate

https://www.vesselfinder.com · Reviewed 2026-04-11 · Editorial assessment by Mike Schneider — not an independent security audit

What should journalists know about VesselFinder?

VesselFinder is the most accessible ship-tracking platform for journalists who need quick vessel lookups without enterprise pricing. The free tier lets you search any vessel by name, MMSI, or IMO number, see its current position on a live map, and view basic specs — all without creating an account. For casual maritime lookups during breaking news, that's often enough. The platform uses the same underlying data source as MarineTraffic — Automatic Identification System broadcasts from vessels — but packages it at significantly lower price points. The Satellite tier at $1,399/year provides 90-day track history with global satellite AIS coverage, compared to MarineTraffic where equivalent satellite archive access typically requires enterprise negotiation. For independent journalists or small newsrooms, this pricing difference matters. VesselFinder operates a network of terrestrial AIS receivers plus satellite AIS partnerships for open-ocean coverage. The terrestrial network is smaller than MarineTraffic's 13,000+ stations, which means coastal coverage gaps are more likely in remote areas. Satellite AIS (available only on the top tier) fills these gaps but with lower update frequency than real-time terrestrial data. The platform covers the basics well: vessel search, live map, port information, container tracking (limited on lower tiers), fleet management, and photo galleries from ship spotters. Historical track playback is the key paid feature — the free tier shows only the last 24 hours, which makes it useless for reconstructing past voyages. The same caveats that apply to all AIS-based tracking apply here: vessels can turn off transponders, spoof positions, or broadcast false identities. VesselFinder shows what AIS reports, not necessarily where ships actually are. For sanctions-evasion or dark-fleet investigations, always cross-reference with satellite imagery and independent registries. VesselFinder is based in Bulgaria. The company behind it is Astra Paging Ltd, a Bulgarian company that has operated the platform since 2011. It is a smaller, privately held company compared to MarineTraffic (now owned by Kpler). The lean corporate structure means less overhead but also less transparency about data processing practices compared to EU-headquartered competitors operating under GDPR-native governance.

Best for

Quick vessel identification and position checks during breaking maritime stories. Budget-friendly ship tracking for independent journalists and small newsrooms. Monitoring specific vessels with the fleet tracker. Container shipment tracking. Cross-referencing vessel positions reported in press releases or official statements. Entry point for maritime OSINT before committing to enterprise tools.

Not for

Deep historical archive research going back years — VesselFinder's maximum history is 90 days even on the top tier (MarineTraffic archives go back to 2010). Investigations requiring vessel ownership chains and corporate structure data — use Equasis or Lloyd's List. Tracking dark vessels with AIS disabled — you need satellite imagery. Academic research requiring bulk data exports or API access at scale.

Security & Privacy

Encryption in transit Yes

Data is scrambled while being sent to their servers

Encryption at rest Unknown

Data is scrambled when stored on their servers

Data jurisdiction Bulgaria (European Union). VesselFinder is operated by Astra Paging Ltd, a Bulgarian company. Bulgaria is an EU member state, so GDPR applies. Server infrastructure location is not publicly disclosed.

Where servers are located — affects which governments can request your data

Security rating Adequate

Standard web analytics and account data collection for registered users. Free browsing without an account is possible with basic tracking. Payment data collected for subscribers. The platform displays publicly broadcast AIS data, which is not personal information. Privacy policy follows GDPR requirements as an EU-based company. No detailed transparency report or Trust Center published.

How to protect yourself:

For sensitive investigations, use the free tier without logging in for initial vessel lookups — no account means no search history tied to you. If you need paid features, create a dedicated account with a work email unrelated to your investigation. The 90-day history limit on the top tier means you should screenshot and export track data immediately when you find it — unlike platforms with permanent archives, this data may age out. Cross-reference all VesselFinder positions against MarineTraffic and Equasis to confirm data consistency. Verify vessel identity by IMO number, not name. For vessels operating in areas with sparse terrestrial coverage, confirm that satellite AIS data is available before relying on position reports.

EU-based company operating under GDPR with HTTPS encryption in transit. The underlying data is publicly broadcast AIS information — low sensitivity. Free browsing without an account minimizes data exposure for casual lookups. Limited corporate transparency about infrastructure and security practices compared to larger competitors. No public record of data breaches. Main journalist concern is search-history exposure if using a logged-in account during sensitive investigations, not the vessel data itself.

Who Owns This

Owner Astra Paging Ltd, a privately held Bulgarian company. Founded in 2011. Operates independently — not part of a larger maritime intelligence conglomerate. Small team compared to MarineTraffic/Kpler.

Funding Self-funded through subscription revenue and advertising on the free tier. No known venture capital or private equity investment. Revenue comes from individual subscribers, small businesses, and advertising.

Business model Freemium with advertising. Free tier supported by ads, paid tiers remove ads and unlock extended history, satellite data, and larger fleet capacity. Pricing is transparent and published, unlike enterprise-negotiated competitors. Most revenue likely comes from the Professional and Satellite tiers used by shipping companies, logistics firms, and researchers.

Known issues

Limited historical depth: Maximum 90-day track history even on the most expensive tier. For investigations requiring months or years of historical vessel movements, MarineTraffic or specialized maritime intelligence platforms are necessary. Smaller terrestrial network: VesselFinder's AIS receiver network is smaller than MarineTraffic's 13,000+ stations, meaning potential coverage gaps in remote coastal areas. Satellite AIS compensates but is only available on the $139/month tier. AIS reliability: Like all AIS-based platforms, VesselFinder is vulnerable to transponder manipulation. Vessels evading sanctions routinely spoof, disable, or falsify AIS data. The platform has no built-in spoofing detection or dark-vessel alerting. Limited corporate transparency: Astra Paging Ltd publishes minimal information about its data processing practices, infrastructure, or security measures compared to larger competitors. No public Trust Center or detailed security documentation. No API for bulk research: Unlike MarineTraffic or other enterprise platforms, VesselFinder does not offer a documented public API for programmatic access or bulk vessel queries. Research is limited to the web interface.

Pricing

Free tier with 1-day track history and 10-vessel fleet. Basic plan at $4/month or $12/year adds 3-day history and 20 vessels. Premium at $34/month or $179/year gives 7-day terrestrial history and 500 vessels. Satellite tier at $139/month or $1,399/year provides global satellite AIS coverage, 90-day track history, and 2,000-vessel fleet capacity.

This is an editorial assessment based on publicly available information as of 2026-04-11, using our published methodology. Independent security review is pending. Security posture can change at any time. This is not a guarantee of safety.

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