MariTrace
MariTrace is a UK-based maritime intelligence platform that combines public AIS, roaming AIS, and proprietary Mercury encrypted hardware to track 100,000+ commercial vessels for shipowners, insurers, security providers, data resellers, and yacht owners across 24 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What MariTrace does
MariTrace is a UK-based maritime intelligence platform founded in 2008 and headquartered in Witney, Oxfordshire, with a London office. The company aggregates vessel position and movement data from multiple AIS sources — public AIS, roaming AIS, and proprietary encrypted Mercury onboard hardware — to provide continuous tracking coverage that persists when AIS signals drop, are jammed, or are intentionally switched off. Its core platform serves commercial fleet operators, marine insurers, security providers, and data customers/resellers, with adjacent reach into private yacht owners. Mercury, launched in March 2024, is an encrypted onboard device transmitting secure location data to the MariTrace platform at configurable update rates up to 1 Hz, with NMEA 0183/2000 compatibility and end-to-end encryption.
The business model combines tiered SaaS subscriptions (free data-sharing contributor tier, professional platform access, and custom enterprise fleet agreements on multi-year contracts), Mercury hardware sales, and API/data licensing for platform integrators. Go-to-market is hybrid: self-serve product-led growth through free trials and the AIS Data Sharing Programme, supplemented by enterprise field sales for shipowners, insurers, and security providers. A public API (apis.maritrace.com) enables programmatic access to traditional AIS, roaming AIS, and encrypted Mercury data streams for embedding into customer platforms and analytics offerings. The platform tracks 100,000+ commercial vessels, generates 20M+ data points hourly, covers 7,500+ ports, and serves customers across 24 countries, with 29M+ AIS-derived voyage records retained from 2015 to present.
In April 2026, MariTrace was acquired by SINAY, a French maritime technology company pursuing a roll-up strategy that previously included acquisitions of marine weather analytics provider OpenOcean (2022) and container tracking service Safecube (2024). The acquisition integrates MariTrace's real-time vessel intelligence into SINAY's end-to-end supply chain visibility platform combining vessel, cargo, and environmental data. As of the acquisition date, MariTrace operated as MariTrace Limited, a private limited company registered in England and Wales.
MariTrace firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MariTrace
- Legal name
- MariTrace Limited
- Website
- https://maritrace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- MariTrace is a UK-based maritime intelligence platform that combines public AIS, roaming AIS, and proprietary Mercury encrypted hardware to track 100,000+ commercial vessels for shipowners, insurers, security providers, data resellers, and yacht owners across 24 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MariTrace industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Intelligence and Vessel Tracking Software
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Navigational Services to Shipping (48833)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ocean Container Visibility (Vessel, Container, Demurrage/Detention) (TLAEADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Maritime Security Technology & Systems (CCTV, Radar, AIS, Perimeter Sensors) (BPAKALAI), Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI)
Keywords
Where MariTrace is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
MariTrace business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription Platform Access: Recurring subscription revenue from platform access providing vessel tracking, risk assessment, voyage history, and analytics capabilities. Tiered access with free data sharing option and paid premium subscriptions.
- Mercury Hardware Sales: Sale of the Mercury encrypted tracking device as optional onboard hardware that enhances tracking when AIS is unavailable. Includes installation support and ongoing data transmission services.
- Data Licensing & Resale: Licensing of AIS-derived voyage records and vessel movement data to data customers, platform partners, and resellers who integrate MariTrace data into analytics dashboards and maritime intelligence offerings.
- Data Contribution Exchange: Free platform access provided to AIS receiver operators who contribute their terrestrial data feed, creating a data exchange model that expands coverage while reducing acquisition costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free access for AIS data contributors |
| Subscription | Annual | Professional platform subscription |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise fleet management |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
MariTrace product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MariTrace provides a maritime intelligence platform that combines public AIS, roaming AIS, and its proprietary Mercury encrypted onboard device data into a unified vessel tracking interface. The platform delivers real-time vessel positions, route history, port call data, risk zone overlays, and high-risk maritime corridor intelligence for commercial fleets, insurers, security providers, and yacht operators. An API layer exposes the same data for integration by data customers, resellers, and analytics platforms.
Product overview
MariTrace offers a unified maritime intelligence platform combining vessel tracking and environmental data. The core MariTrace Platform provides AIS monitoring, risk assessment, and maritime oversight, while the Mercury device serves as an add-on encrypted hardware module that augments AIS tracking when coverage drops or AIS is intentionally disabled. The Data Sharing Programme enables AIS data contributors to access the platform for free. The platform serves commercial vessels, insurance and security providers, data customers and resellers, and yachts, combining public AIS, Roaming AIS, and proprietary encrypted device data into a single operational intelligence source.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mercury: Encrypted onboard device for vessel tracking that maintains visibility when AIS is unavailable or intentionally switched off, providing secure location data transmitted to the MariTrace platform
Products and services
- MariTrace Platform Maritime intelligence platform combining public AIS, roaming AIS, and encrypted Mercury device data to deliver real-time vessel tracking, route history, port call data, risk overlays, and security advisories for commercial vessels, insurers, security providers, and yacht operators.
- Mercury Encrypted Tracking Device Encrypted onboard hardware device that transmits secure vessel location data to the MariTrace platform when AIS coverage drops or is intentionally disabled, with configurable update rates up to 1 Hz, offline resilience, and NMEA 0183/2000 compatibility.
- AIS Data Sharing Programme Programme that enables organizations operating AIS receivers to contribute terrestrial AIS data to MariTrace in exchange for free platform access, including live vessel visualization, search, and recent voyage history.
- MariTrace Vessel Tracking API Programmatic API exposing MariTrace vessel tracking data including traditional AIS, Roaming AIS, and Mercury encrypted streams, with documented endpoints for integration by data customers, platform partners, and resellers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20M+ data points generated hourly from vessel monitoring
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MariTrace
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MariTrace technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
MariTrace partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SINAYcoreSINAY, a French maritime technology company, acquired MariTrace in April 2026 as part of its strategy to unify vessel, cargo, and environmental data into a single platform. The acquisition combines MariTrace's real-time vessel intelligence with SINAY's Safecube container tracking and environmental analytics to build a comprehensive end-to-end supply chain visibility platform.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MariTrace competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Windward: Windward offers AI-driven maritime risk analytics, including vessel behavior, sanctions, and trade flow insights. It targets the same insurance, security, and government buyers as MariTrace's Insurance & Security Providers segment.
- VesselFinder: VesselFinder is a well-established AIS vessel tracking service with global receiver coverage and a freemium model. It competes directly with MariTrace on live vessel positions, port calls, and historical voyage data for commercial and recreational users.
- Spire Maritime: Spire Maritime operates one of the largest proprietary satellite AIS networks and offers vessel tracking, weather routing, and maritime analytics. It competes with MariTrace on global coverage quality and on enterprise data feeds via API.
- MarineTraffic: MarineTraffic is the largest global AIS-based vessel tracking platform, serving shipowners, port operators, and traders. It is the most direct substitute for MariTrace's core platform, competing head-to-head on AIS coverage, vessel history, and route intelligence.
- Pole Star Global: Pole Star Global provides vessel tracking and sanctions/screening intelligence used by compliance teams, insurers, and financial institutions. It overlaps MariTrace's insurance & security segment closely, especially around sanctions compliance and dark-period detection.
- FleetMon: FleetMon provides AIS-based vessel tracking and fleet monitoring, with API access and enterprise subscriptions. It targets the same maritime intelligence buyer as MariTrace, including ship operators, ports, and researchers.
Others
- Sinay: Sinay is a French maritime technology company that acquired MariTrace in April 2026 and operates adjacent modules in container tracking (Safecube) and environmental analytics (OpenOcean). It is now the parent and ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
Emerging players
- VesselsValue: VesselsValue focuses on vessel and fleet valuations using AIS-derived activity data. It is an adjacent, specialized player that uses the same underlying data layer as MariTrace but sells into the financial and shipowner valuation use case.
Broad incumbents
- Kpler: Kpler is a leading trade and commodity intelligence platform with strong vessel tracking capabilities (including its MarineTraffic acquisition). It is a larger incumbent that competes with MariTrace on cargo flow and vessel analytics.
- Lloyd's List Intelligence: Lloyd's List Intelligence is a long-established maritime data and analytics provider covering vessel movements, ownership, and sanctions. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities but a wider portfolio than MariTrace's specialized offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MariTrace social profiles
Digital presenceMariTrace financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MariTrace leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
MariTrace funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MariTrace M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MariTrace
What does MariTrace do?
MariTrace provides a maritime intelligence platform that combines public AIS, roaming AIS, and its proprietary Mercury encrypted onboard device data into a unified vessel tracking interface. The platform delivers real-time vessel positions, route history, port call data, risk zone overlays, and high-risk maritime corridor intelligence for commercial fleets, insurers, security providers, and yacht operators. An API layer exposes the same data for integration by data customers, resellers, and analytics platforms.
Is MariTrace a public or private company?
MariTrace is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was MariTrace founded?
MariTrace was founded in 2008. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is MariTrace based?
MariTrace is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does MariTrace make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Platform Access are the primary driver. The others are mercury Hardware Sales, data Licensing & Resale and data Contribution Exchange.
Who are MariTrace's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Windward, VesselFinder, Spire Maritime, MarineTraffic, Pole Star Global and FleetMon. Sinay is listed as an others. VesselsValue is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Kpler and Lloyd's List Intelligence.
Does MariTrace have an API?
Yes. MariTrace offers a public API that enables access to vessel tracking data including traditional AIS, Roaming AIS, and encrypted Mercury data streams. The API allows users to integrate maritime data into their own platforms, analytics systems, or custom workflows. Data can be visualized through the MariTrace interface or integrated via API. Mercury device data can be accessed directly via API for custom workflows. Developer documentation is at apis.maritrace.com/swagger/index.html.
What industry is MariTrace in?
MariTrace's product category is Maritime Intelligence and Vessel Tracking Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAEADAF, Ocean Container Visibility (Vessel, Container, Demurrage/Detention), with a secondary code of BPAKALAI, Maritime Security Technology & Systems (CCTV, Radar, AIS, Perimeter Sensors). Its NAICS code is 4883 and its SIC code is 4400.