These structured data repositories represent a crucial tool for maritime situational awareness. They contain regularly updated information regarding vessel positions, identities, and navigational statuses, derived from automated identification system (AIS) broadcasts. For example, these tables might include a vessel’s latitude, longitude, speed over ground, heading, Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number, and vessel type at specific timestamps throughout the day.
The significance of this information lies in its ability to support various applications, ranging from collision avoidance and maritime traffic management to search and rescue operations and environmental monitoring. Historically, such data was primarily utilized for real-time tracking. However, the accumulation of this data over time allows for retrospective analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modeling, leading to enhanced understanding of maritime activity and improved decision-making capabilities.