Vessels with an unknown AIS ship type
Some vessels report ship type 0, "not available", or a code with no defined meaning. Others have simply not been heard sending their static report yet. Why it happens and which vessels are in that state in our store.
Codes 1–3913,170 heard in latest snapshot150+ in store
Which AIS codes count as vessels of unknown type
This category holds every vessel whose ship-and-cargo type is 0, missing, or outside the defined range of 1 to 99. Zero is the factory default: it means nobody has programmed a type into the transponder. It is the absence of a value, not a kind of vessel.
We keep "unknown" apart from "other" (90 to 99) on purpose. "Other" is a choice an operator made; "unknown" is no choice at all.
| Code | Meaning | Heard now |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown | 15 |
| 2 | Unknown | 6 |
| 3 | Unknown | 4 |
| 4 | Unknown | 0 |
| 5 | Unknown | 6 |
| 6 | Unknown | 10 |
| 7 | Unknown | 2 |
| 8 | Unknown | 0 |
| 9 | Unknown | 13 |
| 10 | Unknown | 24 |
| 11 | Unknown | 2 |
| 12 | Unknown | 1 |
| 13 | Unknown | 1 |
| 14 | Unknown | 0 |
| 15 | Unknown | 0 |
| 16 | Unknown | 0 |
| 17 | Unknown | 1 |
| 18 | Unknown | 1 |
| 19 | Unknown | 2 |
| 38 | Unknown | 21 |
| 39 | Unknown | 31 |
How to spot one on the live map
Ship type is not in the position report. It travels in a separate static report — message 5 for Class A, every 6 minutes; message 24 for Class B. A vessel we have only just started hearing can sit in this category for a few minutes until its static report arrives, and a vessel at the edge of reception may never get one through.
Open the live map → Positions there are the latest known, with their source and age.
Who has to carry AIS
Any AIS station can end up here: a newly installed transponder, a boat whose owner never completed the setup, a vessel heard only in fragments, or a station that is not a ship at all, such as an aid to navigation or a search-and-rescue transmitter.
The navigational status to expect
Ship type says what a vessel is; navigational status says what it claims to be doing. These are the statuses that normally go with vessels of unknown type:
Where the type code misleads
Codes 1 to 19 are reserved by the standard and should never be sent; a vessel sending one is misconfigured, and we file it here rather than guess.
Unknown type does not make a vessel suspicious. In our data the most common cause is timing: the position arrived and the static report has not yet.
Questions
What does AIS ship type 0 mean?
Not available. It is the default value until a type is programmed into the transponder, so it means the vessel has not declared a type, not that it belongs to some type 0 class.
Why does a vessel show a position but no ship type?
Position and ship type travel in different messages. Positions repeat every few seconds; the static report carrying type, name and dimensions repeats every 6 minutes. Until one static report gets through, the type stays unknown.
Further reading
In our store
Unknown vessels we have heard
23 with a position
| Vessel | MMSI | Type | Destination | Speed | Course | Status | Position age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOLGO-DON 149 | 273363920 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.0 kn | 4° | Under way using engine | 34 min ago |
| EMBARSUND | 230086510 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.0 kn | 100° | Not reported | 34 min ago |
| JENNY | 230939250 | Unknown | FIKOK | 0.0 kn | 304° | Moored | 34 min ago |
| MERIKUOKKA | 230941570 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.0 kn | Not reported | Not reported | 34 min ago |
| NAVI TEST | 230943910 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.0 kn | Not reported | Not reported | 34 min ago |
| POLLUX | 230980380 | Unknown | OULU | 0.0 kn | 322° | Moored | 34 min ago |
| ASTRID | 230998670 | Unknown | HELSINKI HALKOLAIT | 0.0 kn | 2° | Moored | 34 min ago |
| LUNAMAR | 255805988 | Unknown | HANKO | 0.0 kn | 74° | Moored | 34 min ago |
| MISTRAL | 261011873 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.0 kn | 64° | Not reported | 34 min ago |
| LUSCA | 265033420 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.0 kn | Not reported | Under way using engine | 34 min ago |
| OCEAN ROSE | 265035670 | Unknown | SANDHAMN | 11.7 kn | 282° | Under way using engine | 34 min ago |
| LIVE FIRING EXERCISE | 265066760 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.0 kn | 0° | Not reported | 34 min ago |
| OBELIX | 265628650 | Unknown | Not reported | 3.6 kn | 157° | Under way using engine | 34 min ago |
| LARUS | 273263300 | Unknown | RU KGD | 10.8 kn | 184° | Under way using engine | 34 min ago |
| ALDAN | 273320150 | Unknown | CHEREPOVEC | 0.4 kn | Not reported | Not reported | 34 min ago |
| AKADEMIK FEDEROV | 273412710 | Unknown | CAPE TOWN | 12.9 kn | 256° | Under way using engine | 34 min ago |
| VITYAZ | 273456070 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.1 kn | 6° | Moored | 34 min ago |
| MIA | 273611990 | Unknown | RU VYG | 0.0 kn | Not reported | Moored | 34 min ago |
| EVA-019 | 276231000 | Unknown | HUNDIPEA | 0.0 kn | 148° | Moored | 34 min ago |
| EVA 316 | 276415000 | Unknown | KUNDA HUNDIPEA | 0.0 kn | 134° | Moored | 34 min ago |
| VIGRI | 276482000 | Unknown | VENE BALTI | 0.0 kn | 0° | Moored | 34 min ago |
| PILOT 153 SE | 265088890 | Unknown | Not reported | 0.0 kn | Not reported | Not reported | 3 h ago |
| YMER | 265066000 | Unknown | ICEBREAKER CH69 | 0.0 kn | 196° | Moored | 5 h ago |
| MARIANNA3 | 3 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| GRINGO | 4 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MO | 5 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BUS-BUOY:6 | 6 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BUS-BUOY:8 | 8 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BUS-BUOY:9 | 9 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| FOREVER NOW | 11 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 12 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 33 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| IDU-BUOY:6 | 66 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 69 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOUEE 3 BT MAGHAN 95 | 70 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOUEE 1 BT HATIM 34% | 71 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| IDU-BUOY:7 | 77 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOYA1 ASSAD ALMOUHIT | 88 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 91 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| GRINGO | 96 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOUEE 1 ATLAS SAG 10 | 120 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOUEE 3 ATLAS SAG 10 | 122 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOUEE 1 BT ATTAQW 91 | 125 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 128 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| 62 LXN-A39-1-36% | 162 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| YAMNA BOYA2 90% | 224 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BERING | 261 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| =-99% | 284 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOUMASLI BOYA1 100% | 308 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOUMASLI BOYA2 97% | 309 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| LHAJ ABDO BOYA1 90% | 310 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| LHAJ ABDO BOYA2 92% | 311 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| LHAJ ABDO BOYA3 92% | 312 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| CHORFA BOYA1 93% | 316 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RASIF BOYA2 98% | 321 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RASIF BOYA3 98% | 322 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| IKHWAN BOYA1 83% | 324 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| IKHWAN BOYA2 85% | 325 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ABOULFIDA BOYA1 92% | 327 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOSLI BOYA3 96% | 330 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ARRAYAN BOYA1 91% | 331 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| NOTRE-BUOY:3 | 333 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RANIA BOYA1 95% | 334 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RANIA BOYA2 96% | 335 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ETTAQUI BOYA1 98% | 337 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ETTAQUI BOYA2 99% | 338 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| NOTRE- BUOY: 4 | 444 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| NOTRE-BUOY:5 | 555 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BUOY 4 EB-90% | 939 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| JECHITO VI | 3087 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 3567 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| 456 LXN-A39-11-55% | 11456 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| 759 LXN-B4-17-82% | 17759 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| 18 -18% | 56018 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 66218 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 201026 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOUEE 4 CAP HORN II | 228178 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| LONGLINE BUOY 05-86% | 259005 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 260310 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 354333 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 621635 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RED EAGLE | 648559 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MARMAI_SAILOR | 662643 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 731988 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1170722 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1201354 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1201920 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1219223 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| B 4 | 1234567 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| B/M FARCA [92%] | 1234572 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SIRIUS | 1234580 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1242490 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1380939 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1421361 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1430538 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1440697 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1441307 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1511068 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1826425 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1972691 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 1977647 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ESCOLA DO MAR ACOREP | 2048000 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| GAS PLATFORM | 2070910 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 2088940 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 2163369 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 2171529 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| TORRELAVEGA | 2241117 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AVILES | 2241118 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BOAL MS | 2241119 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ARES | 2241121 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| COLLSEROLA | 2241128 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| POZO DE LAS NIEVES | 2241148 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| PUNTACABALO | 2242118 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MARIN | 2242120 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| P. FUERTEVENTURA | 2243015 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RADIOBUD.FO | 2314000 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 2345678 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| _*+CAB)JT -\\L LA 0 | 2442024 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 2444031 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MINERVA 11 BOTTOM 11 | 2505129 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 2751232 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SLAVNIK | 2780201 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| IZOLA SBI | 2780202 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| CT3-4020:3 | 3014020 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 3369443 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MT DRURY | 5125003 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SENSOR_SITE_SABIRA | 5250000 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| KM WIRA SAMUDRA C | 5257015 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| R60 GUNUNG PULAI | 5330051 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 5330054 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 5330505 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 5671037 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 5671101 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 7010004 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| R.ARTHUR B3 | 7104567 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| 27-C-15 | 8567423 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9000092 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9000094 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9000166 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9000207 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9000563 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9000600 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 9000624 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 9000661 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Name not reported | 9000808 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9000821 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| NAVIERA VII | 9000860 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9001020 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ONWASHENZHEN | 9001169 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ETERNITY STAR | 9001307 | Unknown | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
Listed newest position first, capped at 150 rows. Ship type is self-declared by the vessel and is not verified by anyone.