This should explain it: https://www.cruisingearth.com/forum/f485/why-cant-track-ship-know-its-sailing-2293/
Request New Ship Selection For Tracker
- Thread starter Greg
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This should explain it: https://www.cruisingearth.com/forum/f485/why-cant-track-ship-know-its-sailing-2293/
Ship already exists in tracker: https://www.cruisingearth.com/ship_tracker/carnival_cruise_lines/carnival_sunshine/
Ship already exists in tracker: https://www.cruisingearth.com/ship_tracker/norwegian_cruise_line/norwegian_getaway/
Shipiehippy
New member
Add ship
Please add carnival elation to tracker.
Thanks
Please add carnival elation to tracker.
Thanks
cruisinlady
New member
Regal Princess
I am not getting any cruise lines in the drop down menu. Please add Regal Princess to tracker....Thank you
I am not getting any cruise lines in the drop down menu. Please add Regal Princess to tracker....Thank you
Already exists in menu: https://www.cruisingearth.com/ship_tracker/carnival_cruise_lines/carnival_elation/
You first need to Select Type of ship (Ocean Cruise or River Cruise, in your case Ocean Cruise), then all the Ocean Cruise Line Selections will be available in the next box.
Ship already exists in menu: https://www.cruisingearth.com/ship_tracker/princess_cruises/regal_princess/
Already exists in the menus: https://www.cruisingearth.com/ship_tracker/royal_caribbean_international/independence_of_the_seas/
Ships can only be tracked when AIS data (tracking data) is received from them. If a ship is more than approximately 80-100 miles offshore the land based AIS receiving stations which we receive the tracking data from will not have any new data on the ship. If the data we have gets more than one hour old the ship will no longer be shown on our "Mapping Option A" you can then switch to "Mapping Option B" which typically shows the last position of the ship prior to it going "Out Of Range".
As you asked previously about webcams. Carnival's webcams are relayed by satellite and don't suffer from the limitations the land based AIS tracking does. They are completely different systems.
redrobin
I have just found your reply to why LIVE tracking not always possible. Came across it by fluke. I am an old fogey (really OLD) and I find this website quite confusing at times. Apart from your VHF explanation etc. the Carnival Sunshine was supposedly just in Costa Maya for a few hours which I believe is LAND so definitely within the 100 mile range you were talking about. I could not find any evidence that could tell me that it was in fact in Costa Maya. According to it's schedule it should have left by now. Maybe by the time it is going close to Cozumel a position might be possible??? Who knows?? Thanks.
I have just found your reply to why LIVE tracking not always possible. Came across it by fluke. I am an old fogey (really OLD) and I find this website quite confusing at times. Apart from your VHF explanation etc. the Carnival Sunshine was supposedly just in Costa Maya for a few hours which I believe is LAND so definitely within the 100 mile range you were talking about. I could not find any evidence that could tell me that it was in fact in Costa Maya. According to it's schedule it should have left by now. Maybe by the time it is going close to Cozumel a position might be possible??? Who knows?? Thanks.
Definitely sounds simple enough, but unfortunately it isn't.
The cruise lines own their own webcam feed which is basically an internet service from the ship that passes through a satellite, not cheap but not that expensive either.
On the other hand AIS data that goes through a satellite goes through proprietary equipment installed on a satellite or through an AIS specific satellite itself. This data is owned by the satellite company and to get it is very expensive still since it is new technology that converts land based VHF data into satellite data. You can read all about here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Identification_System#Satellite-based_AIS_.28S-AIS.29
It's all about the $$$. So, yes satellite data tracking is available but the data is very expensive to get, especially if you are trying to track hundreds of ships like we do here. The land based AIS data is free. That is why any ship tracking you do online that you are not paying hundreds of dollars for will all be based off land based AIS data which all comes from a single source.
The 100 mile range is a big ship (tall antenna, 100+ feet off the water) on a good day with a strong transmitter. In general you should expect something less than 100 mile range. Carnival Sunshine although recently refurbished is still an 18 year old vessel and it's transmitter is likely not new. That being said it's transmission distance is likely less than 100 miles and could be significantly less. Like you said if it was in port, it would definitely fall in the "Within Range" category. If I was to guess by looking at recent past data received from the ship I would say the VHF equipment onboard the Carnival Sunshine is currently having some issues.
Hi GREG .. Thank you so much for answering all my questions ( I have finally figured out how to find them as well ). I had to go out for a few hours, hence the delay in this reply. I have read all your responses ( AND that link to AIS ). I can see your predicament and I really appreciate ALL your responses and patience with this old codger. I do not travel very much these days (health) but I always follow my family on their adventures. Following the airlines (many websites) is fascinating and they are so accurate ( you can even listen to the ground/air communications at most airports ). Shipping has a while to go but I am sure they will catch up with websites like yours. Keep up the good work. Hope my bugging didn't get you too exasperated. Cheers!!
Not a problem to answer your questions. Many people have the same ones but just don't take the time (or have the time) to ask, so I'm sure your questions will help a lot of people for some time to come.
Yes, when the S-AIS becomes the standard for all shipping the data will more than likely be very cheap or freely available like satellite information is currently for aviation. Hopefully, even before then there should be more options in who you can get S-AIS data through and the prices for it should drop significantly with the competition.
Until then we are unfortunately stuck with the land based AIS system with all it's current limitations. It is kind of crazy to think that the current land based AIS standard for shipping tracking throughout the World is only about 25 years old, at the same time the technology it uses is quite old. The shipping industry is definitely far behind where the aviation industry currently is in tracking standards.
Cheers.
Hi Greg .. Still no joy on Carnival Sunshine since shortly after it left Roatan (Mahogany Bay). It is probably now somewhere north of Cuba and likely will start picking up reports this evening as it comes around Key West/Miami area on it's way to dock Saturday Morning. I did have a message from my family last night (via Satellite no doubt ) and they seem to be having a fantastic trip. They will then transfer for an airline trip back here to the "frozen north" (Winnipeg). Not so frozen these days as today on way to above 30C. Bright and sunny right now after a fierce thunderstorm couple of hours back. This has been a very interesting and educational dialogue (NEVER too old to learn) and I really appreciate your responses. This is a wonderful (though sometimes sad ) world we live in .. so much to enjoy. Will check in next cruise any of my family embark on .. might just drop in once in a while to see what's going on!!!! Again THANKS and adios amigo .. Cheerio
Using "Mapping Option B" I see it is now tracking just South of Key West. It appears it didn't get picked up until about 40km off of Key West which does have an AIS reporting station. Looking at the tracking history including reported port stops, there is a very good chance there is an issue with Carnival Sunshine's onboard AIS reporting equipment.
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