Over the last two months, Genscape Vesseltracker has added more than 100 new AIS antenna locations across China, covering major ports, coastal traffic areas, and inland waterways throughout the country. The antennas are strategically placed in high locations to provide optimal shipping coverage, both within port areas and further out to sea, and demonstrates Genscape Vesseltracker’s continued commitment to expanding our AIS antenna network to cover all major ports around the world.
China has one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing maritime sectors. It is a major importer of raw materials for manufacturing and plays a key role in oceanbound container shipping, with seven of the world’s 10 largest container ports, including Shanghai, the world’s largest. Unsurprisingly, the Chinese coast also boasts some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Inland shipping in China has also boomed, especially since the 2012 completion of the Three Gorges Dam. Apart from generating hydroelectric power, the dam has also made the upper reaches of the Yangtze River navigable for vessels over 100 tons and for the first time, allowing shipments from Shanghai to reach Chongqing, over 2,000 kilometers (km) upstream. This inland shipping expansion has led to a drop in transportation costs, attracting investment and industry throughout the Yangtze River basin.
Genscape Vesseltracker’s recent Chinese antenna network expansion has led to improved coverage of vessels in both coastal and inland areas, and saw an immediate increase in the total number of vessels detected in Chinese waters as soon as the new antennas came online.
The new Chinese antenna coverage is a major benefit to Genscape Vesseltracker’s users and clients. Since AIS technology has been mandated by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) for the vast majority of vessels, our users can see a truly global picture of shipping movements. Locally-placed AIS antennas also provide an unmatched level of detail and accuracy, which can be used to optimize port logistics, fleet movements and trading decisions.
In large coastal ports like Shanghai, the new, highly-placed antennas provide excellent coverage not only of the port area, but also anchorage areas and shipping lanes further out to sea (i.e. 50 nautical miles offshore, or in some cases more). Users of Genscape Vesseltracker’s Cockpit Tool can see up-to-minute information on activities in the port and anchorages, including berth availability, terminal waiting times and interactions between large, ocean-going vessels and smaller vessels, such as tugboats and bunkering vessels.
On rivers, canals and other inland waterways, the new Chinese antennas have allowed a new level of detail in planning and analysis. Logistics managers in Shanghai waiting for a cargo from Chongqing, 2,000 km upstream, can plan for their cargo’s arrival weeks ahead and receive updates as the vessel passes key waypoints or check if there has been a delay. Similarly, traders analyzing commodity movements can watch river barge movements at terminals of interest throughout the entire Yangtze River basin.
Genscape Vesseltracker’s Antenna Partners receive full access to all AIS antenna data and information from our ship database, including vessel owners and managers, and technical specifications. We are always working to expand our network, so if you are interested in becoming a Genscape Vesseltracker antenna partner, please let us know here!