BoatNerd

Track vessel traffic across the Great Lakes and beyond with the BoatNerd App.

BoatNerd brings live AIS vessel tracking to your iPhone and iPad, making it easy for ship enthusiasts, photographers, maritime professionals, and waterfront observers to follow freighters, tankers, tugboats, passenger vessels, and more in real time.

Whether you're watching from shore, planning a photography outing, or simply curious about maritime traffic, BoatNerd provides a fast and intuitive way to track vessels and stay connected to activity on the water.

Features:

•⁠ ⁠Live AIS vessel tracking and interactive maps

•⁠ ⁠Real-time vessel positions, speed, course, and destination information

•⁠ ⁠Detailed vessel profiles and navigation information

•⁠ ⁠Search for specific vessels by name

• ETA waypoint tools to estimate when a vessel will reach a selected location

•⁠ ⁠Vessel Passage Section that shows past and future passages

•⁠ ⁠Free US and Canadian Nautical Chart Layers

•⁠ ⁠Free layers showing weather, buoys, weather ops and more

•⁠ ⁠View traffic throughout the Great Lakes and other AIS-covered waterways

•⁠ ⁠Easy-to-use interface optimized for mobile devices

•⁠ ⁠Frequent updates powered by AIS data sources

•… And because we are BoatNerds, a section where you can blow vessel salutes from your phone

Perfect for:

•⁠ ⁠Ship watchers and maritime enthusiasts

•⁠ ⁠Great Lakes fans and waterfront communities

•⁠ ⁠Marine photographers

•⁠ ⁠Boaters and recreational mariners

•⁠ ⁠Anyone interested in vessel traffic and maritime operations

Download BoatNerd and stay connected to the vessels you love to follow—wherever they are on the water.

Note: Vessel tracking depends on AIS signal availability and coverage. Some areas may have limited or delayed data.