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Maritime Communication and Tracking Networks - Definition & Meaning | Logistics Glossary

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 25, 2026

Maritime Communication and Tracking Networks

Maritime communication and tracking networks are the technical infrastructure that keeps vessels under continuous observation and enables information exchange between ships, operators, ports, and authorities.

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Maritime communication and tracking networks are the technical infrastructure that keeps vessels under continuous observation and enables information exchange between ships, operators, ports, and…

Core components include VHF radio for coastal waters, satellite systems for ocean passages, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) for real-time position broadcasting and collision avoidance, and…

AIS and LRIT are mandatory under SOLAS for defined vessel categories, supplying port states and coast guards with the data needed for traffic management and security decisions.

Last updated: 25 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/AIS.aspx

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Maritime Communication and Tracking Networks

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Definition & Explanation

Maritime communication and tracking networks are the technical infrastructure that keeps vessels under continuous observation and enables information exchange between ships, operators, ports, and authorities. Core components include VHF radio for coastal waters, satellite systems for ocean passages, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) for real-time position broadcasting and collision avoidance, and Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) for remote monitoring by flag and coastal states. AIS and LRIT are mandatory under SOLAS for defined vessel categories, supplying port states and coast guards with the data needed for traffic management and security decisions. In freight operations, these networks are the backbone of reliable ETA forecasting and the timely allocation of port resources.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Maritime Communication and Tracking Networks (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/maritime-communication-and-tracking-networks), accessed 2026-09-27
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Maritime Communication and Tracking Networks. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/maritime-communication-and-tracking-networks
BibTeX: @misc{maritimecommunicationand2025, title = {Maritime Communication and Tracking Networks}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/maritime-communication-and-tracking-networks}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-27} }

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