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Ship Lens blog

Guides on vessel tracking, AIS data, and keeping cargo on schedule.

How to Track a Ship by Name (No MMSI Needed)

Only know the vessel's name? Here's how to find any ship's live position by name — no MMSI lookup and no maritime portal required.

June 25, 2026 · 1 min read

What Is AIS? A Plain-English Guide to Vessel Tracking

AIS is the technology behind every live ship-tracking map. Here's what AIS is, how a vessel's position reaches your screen, and why some fixes are hours old.

June 25, 2026 · 1 min read

How to Find a Vessel's MMSI Number (and When You Don't Need It)

What an MMSI number is, where to find it for any vessel, and why you can often skip the lookup entirely when tracking a ship.

June 25, 2026 · 1 min read

How to Check If Your Container Ship Is Running Late

Worried your cargo is delayed? Here's how to check a container ship's live position, spot slow-downs and diversions, and get an honest read on its ETA in seconds.

June 25, 2026 · 1 min read