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Combined data extracts

Spire Maritime AIS data extracts are normally provided in CSV format with data fields as listed in the table of data fields below. In the combined data extract format, Spire Maritime have processed the AIS messages per MMSI and joined together the most recently reported Static values with each new position message. This provides a per vessel view of AIS history based on the MMSI number.

Different AIS messages

AIS History data for vessels contains data from two different types of AIS messages: position messages and static voyage messages:

  • Message Types 1, 2, 3, 18, 19, 27 are some common position messages that contain values in the position related fields, such as speed, heading, rate of turn, position, and status of vessels.
  • Message Types 5 & 24 are static voyage messages and contain values in the static details and voyage related fields, such as identity, type, size and voyage information.

In this format we process the AIS messages per MMSI and join together the most recently reported Static values with each new position message, using the MMSI number as the join between them. For example – to identify the name, imo number, or type of ships related to the AIS Position reports, the mmsi number must be used to join together the 2 different sets of AIS data. So if position reports are recorded against MMSI 636018333 in AIS message type 1, then the imo and name of that vessel is discovered by looking for AIS message type 5 reported using the same MMSI number as shown below:

File field structure

More information on AIS Message Types can be found in the Spire Maritime’s AIS Fundamentals article on AIS Message Types.

Data columns description

created_at datetime
ISO 8601 formatted timestamp in UTC of the time the vessel record was merged to create combined information
timestamp datetime
ISO 8601 formatted timestamp in UTC of the time the AIS message was transmitted
static_updated_at datetime
ISO 8601 formatted timestamp in UTC of the time the last AIS static message was received
position_updated_at datetime
ISO 8601 formatted timestamp in UTC of the time the last AIS position message was received
mmsi integer
The Maritime Mobile Service Identity of the vessel transmitting the AIS message
Possible values: 000000000999999999
latitude float
Vessel latitude in degrees (North=positive, South=negative)
Range: -90 to +90
longitude float
Vessel longitude in degrees (East = positive, West=negative)
Range: -180 to +180
speed number
Vessel speed over ground represented in knots
Possible values: 0 - 102.2 knots, 102.3 (not available)
course number
Vessel course over ground in degrees
Possible values: 0 - 359.9 degrees, 360.0 (not available)
heading number
Vessel true heading in degrees
Possible values: 0 - 359 degrees, 511 (not available)
imo integer
IMO number of the ship
Unique International Maritime Organization number for the vessel that stays with the ship for it’s life
Valid values: 7 digit number
name string
Vessel name
call_sign string
Vessel call sign
flag string
Vessel flag
draught float
Vessel draught represented in 1/10 meters
Possible values: 0.1255, 0 (not available; default)
ship_and_cargo_type integer
Vessel ship and cargo type code
Some common values: 30 (fishing vessel), 52 (tug boat), 70 (cargo/fishing ship) (read our AIS Essentials article on determining a ship type)
length number
Vessel length extracted from ship dimensions to_bow and to_stern in meters
width number
Vessel width extracted from ship dimensions to_port and to_starboard in meters
eta string
Vessel estimated time of arrival as entered by the captain, represented in ISO 8601 format
Possible values: Month: 112, 0 (not available; default); Day: 131, 0 (not available; default); Hour: 023, 24 (not available; default); Minute: 059, 60 (not available; default)
destination string
Vessel destination as entered by the vessel captain
status string
Vessel navigation status
Some common values: 0 (under way using engine), 1 (at anchor), 3 (restricted maneuverability), 7 (engaged in fishing), 15 (read the AIS essentials article on navigational status for more information)
maneuver integer
Vessel maneuver code
Valid values: 0 (not available; default), 1 (not engaged in special maneuver), 2 (engaged in special maneuver)
accuracy integer
Vessel GPS geo location accuracy in meters
Possible values: 1 (high, <=10 meters); 0 (low, >10 meters, default)
rot
Vessel rate of turn
Possible values: -127 - 127; -128 (not available)
collection_type string
How the message was captured
Possible values: satellite or terrestrial or dynamic