Maritime product updates: Proactive compliance, live incident intelligence, and smarter terminal monitoring

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Executive summary

This release round spans two product areas within MarineTraffic — Risk & Compliance and Container Intelligence — with each set of updates reinforcing the other. Compliance teams get sharper risk signals, cleaner interfaces, and faster reaction times. Container Intelligence users get live incident visibility, real-time terminal metrics, and proactive congestion alerts.

These updates focus on three key themes:

1. Compliance intelligence: Richer risk signals and a more consistent, regulation-aligned user experience to catch deceptive practices earlier and communicate them more clearly.
2. Scalable data access: Real-time vessel and risk data via Kafka, enabling downstream automation at scale.
3. Operational visibility: Live incident coverage, redesigned terminal metrics, and threshold-based notifications that shift port monitoring from reactive to alert-driven.

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New Risk & Compliance features: Deeper detection, cleaner interfaces, and proactive monitoring at scale

This round of Risk & Compliance updates reflects two parallel priorities: expanding the depth of detection with new risk signals, and improving the consistency and clarity of how risk information is presented. Together, these changes make the platform more useful both for first-time screening and ongoing monitoring.

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AIS identity manipulation

What it is: A new operational risk indicator that flags detected cases of intentional vessel identity falsification. The initial focus is on zombie vessels — cases where an active vessel transmits AIS messages using the identity of a scrapped vessel.

Who it's for: Compliance analysts, sanctions screening teams, and anyone conducting counterparty due diligence on vessels operating in high-risk corridors.

Why it matters: Identity falsification has become increasingly prevalent following the expansion of sanctions regimes since 2022, representing a material operational and sanctions-evasion risk. By surfacing this signal automatically within the Compliance Workspace, MarineTraffic removes the need for manual cross-referencing and enables earlier identification of potentially evasive vessels.

At a glance:

• Detects cases where an active vessel is transmitting AIS identity data belonging to a scrapped vessel
• Enriches existing risk indicators in the Compliance Workspace
• Supports screening for deceptive shipping practices and sanctions evasion
• Available as part of the Risk & Compliance add-on within MarineTraffic
• Full detection methodology available in the Risk & Compliance methodology article

False flag risk indicator

What it is: A new risk signal that detects when a vessel may be misreporting its flag state, using GISIS vessel registry data cross-referenced against AIS transmissions.

Who it's for: Compliance analysts, sanctions screening teams, and anyone conducting counterparty due diligence on vessels operating in high-risk corridors.

Why it matters: Flag misrepresentation is one of the more subtle forms of deceptive shipping practice. By surfacing this signal automatically — rather than requiring analysts to manually cross-check registry data — MarineTraffic makes it easier to identify potential evasion early in the screening process.

At a glance:

• Detects discrepancies between AIS-reported flag and GISIS vessel registration data
• Enriches existing risk indicators in the Compliance Workspace
• Supports screening for vessels engaged in deceptive shipping practices
• Available as part of the Risk & Compliance add-on within MarineTraffic

Compliance alerts

What it is: Email and in-app notifications that fire automatically when a vessel of interest is involved in a high-risk event.

Who it's for: Compliance officers, risk managers, and operations teams who need to respond to vessel events without monitoring dashboards manually.

Why it matters: Reactive compliance is becoming untenable as fleets grow and risk events multiply. These alerts shift the burden from continuous manual monitoring to event-driven notification — reducing the chance of a high-risk event slipping through undetected.

Alerts are now available for:

• High-risk port calls
• High-risk STS transfers
• Dark STS transfers
• High-risk AIS gaps
• AIS spoofing

Custom fleet monitoring in the Compliance Workspace

What it is: A new custom fleet filter that lets users monitor their own vessel lists directly within the Compliance Workspace.

Who it's for: Fleet operators, compliance teams managing specific vessel relationships, and commercial teams tracking counterparty vessels.

Why it matters: Monitoring the full universe of vessels creates noise. Custom fleet support lets users focus the Compliance Workspace on the vessels that actually matter to their business, reducing time spent filtering and increasing confidence that nothing important is missed.

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Revamped R&C narratives

What it is: A standardisation of frontend narratives across the Risk & Compliance platform, with consistent, regulation-aligned messaging applied across vessel, cargo, trade, flag, high-risk STS transfers, and ownership details.

Who it's for: All Risk & Compliance users — particularly those working in regulated environments where precise, consistent terminology is required.

Why it matters: Inconsistent language creates ambiguity and erodes confidence in a compliance workflow. Clearer, standardised messaging improves user understanding and ensures the platform's risk communications align with formal regulatory terminology.

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New ownership table

What it is: A structured ownership table that replaces the previous ownership narrative format, clearly distinguishing between current and historical ownership entities.

Who it's for: Compliance analysts and due diligence teams screening vessel ownership chains.

Why it matters: Ownership structures are among the most scrutinised elements of sanctions screening. The new table format allows users to quickly assess ownership details and entity status in a clear, scannable layout — reducing the time spent parsing narrative text to extract key facts.

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Cargo/Trade risk: New "Under OPC" column

What it is: A new column in the Cargo/Trade risks table that identifies whether a Russian cargo loading falls within the Oil Price Cap (OPC) framework established by the US, UK, EU, Japan, Canada, and Australia.

Who it's for: Compliance teams and trade risk analysts screening Russian crude and cargo movements for OPC-related exposure.

Why it matters: The Oil Price Cap framework introduced a meaningful distinction within Russian cargo movements that was not previously surfaced in the table view. The new column makes that distinction visible at a glance, providing an additional layer of context for risk screening without requiring users to investigate individual records manually.

At a glance:

• A ticked indicator means the OPC framework applies and should be considered — this is a contextual signal, not a confirmation of compliance or price verification
• Hovering over the indicator reveals the specific entities connecting the vessel to OPC scope
• Full methodology available in the Risk & Compliance methodology article

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Enhancements and improvements

Kafka topics for compliance data: Vessel-level risk data and individual risk indicators are now available via two Kafka topics (rc-data.vessels-v1.gold and rc-data.risks-v1.gold), enabling real-time consumption and easier integration with downstream analytics and automation pipelines. Both topics are live in Dev and Prod environments.

Insights widget in the Compliance Workspace: The Insights widget is now embedded directly in the Compliance Workspace, surfacing relevant Risk & Compliance publications without requiring users to leave their workflow. This is part of a broader initiative toward a standalone intelligence module within the platform.

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How to use these updates

• Access compliance alerts and custom fleet monitoring in the Compliance Workspace within MarineTraffic
• Review the AIS identity manipulation and false flag methodologies in the Risk & Compliance support documentation
• The revamped narratives and new ownership table are live in the Compliance Workspace — no configuration required
• The "Under OPC" column is available in the Cargo/Trade risks table within existing R&C subscriptions
• Contact your account team to discuss Kafka access

New Container Intelligence features: Live incident visibility, smarter terminal metrics, and proactive alerts

This is the most substantial Container Intelligence release to date. Three updates work together to shift port and terminal monitoring from a reactive, check-when-you-can workflow to a continuous, alert-driven one — all included in existing subscriptions at no extra cost.

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Incidents layer

What it is: A live, global incidents feed built directly into the Container Intelligence web app, covering eight disruption types and updated every three hours from thousands of sources worldwide.

Who it's for: Supply chain managers, logistics planners, and port operations teams who need early warning of disruptions before they cascade into schedule delays.

Why it matters: Port disruptions rarely announce themselves in advance. A strike, a weather event, or a geopolitical flare-up can ripple into vessel delays before most teams are aware it has started. The Incidents layer brings that signal directly into the workflow — so teams see the early warning rather than discovering a problem through a delayed vessel.

At a glance:

• Covers eight incident types: conflict, political, operational, accident, weather, strike, holidays, and detention
• Colour-coded by severity (red for high impact, yellow for medium, grey for low) for fast visual prioritisation
• Full incident history accessible per event, showing how a situation has evolved since it began
• Updated every three hours from thousands of global sources
• Available in the web app at no extra cost; API access requires a separate commercial agreement

Note: Incidents are provided for situational awareness only. They are not currently incorporated into predictive ETA calculations.

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Terminal live metrics: Redesigned top bar

What it is: A streamlined terminal view that replaces the previous Performance Index with a set of live metrics reflecting current terminal conditions in real time.

Who it's for: Vessel operators, fleet managers, and logistics planners making arrival and routing decisions based on terminal congestion.

Why it matters: Historical averages can mask what is actually happening at a terminal today. A port that performed well last week may be severely congested right now — and making arrival decisions on outdated data costs time and fuel. Live metrics give teams a truthful, current picture of terminal conditions, enabling just-in-time arrival decisions that reduce unnecessary waiting and unnecessary fuel burn.

At a glance:

• Shows live waiting average, live stay average, live waiting vessel count, and live at-berth vessel count
• Replaces the Performance Index and legacy graphs based on direct customer feedback
• Metrics reflect vessels currently in queue and at berth — not historical averages
• Supports just-in-time arrival planning and slow-steaming decisions

Notifications: Live waiting average alerts

What it is: Threshold-based alerts that notify users via email or in-app when the live waiting average at a selected port or terminal crosses a defined threshold — or recovers below one.

Who it's for: Operations teams and planners monitoring congestion across multiple ports who cannot check the platform continuously.

Why it matters: Manual congestion monitoring across a global port network is time-consuming and easy to miss. These notifications shift users from a monitoring posture to an alert-driven workflow — acting only when conditions breach a threshold they have defined. Relaxation alerts complete the picture, signalling when it is safe to resume standard routing after a congestion event.

At a glance:

• Set custom thresholds for any port or terminal (e.g., alert when waiting average exceeds 24 hours)
• Combine unlimited terminals or entire ports into a single notification rule
• Relaxation conditions notify when congestion improves (e.g., drops below 12 hours)
• Delivered via email, in-app notification, or both
• Included in all existing Container Intelligence subscriptions at no extra cost

Enhancements and improvements

Incident history: Each incident record includes a full update timeline, accessible by expanding the incident row. This allows teams to track how a situation has developed since it began, not just its current status.

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How to use these updates

• The Incidents layer is live in the Container Intelligence web app now — access it from the map layer controls within your existing subscription
• Terminal live metrics are available immediately in the terminal overview panel; no configuration required
• To set up a live waiting average notification, select your terminals or ports, define your threshold, add a relaxation condition, and choose your delivery channel — full setup steps are in the Help Centre article
• For API access to incidents data, contact your account team to discuss commercial options

What these updates mean for MarineTraffic customers

The unifying thread across Risk & Compliance and Container Intelligence this month is proactive awareness. Whether that's catching a vessel misreporting its flag state, reacting to a high-risk AIS event, accessing compliance data programmatically, or spotting a port disruption before it cascades into a schedule delay — each update surfaces the right signal earlier and reduces the manual effort required to act on it.

Taken together, this release round moves the platform meaningfully forward in two areas that matter most to maritime compliance and operations teams:

• For compliance teams, the combination of false flag detection, real-time alerts, custom fleet monitoring, and Kafka-based data access means that risk signals are now richer, more proactive, and more accessible to the downstream systems that act on them. Analysts spend less time searching for risk events and more time responding to them.
• For Container Intelligence users, the new Incidents layer, live terminal metrics, and congestion notifications together close the gap between a disruption occurring and a team being able to respond. Rather than discovering a problem through a delayed vessel, users now see the signal early — with the context needed to act.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main product updates in this release? 

Key releases include the false flag risk indicator, real-time compliance alerts across five event types, custom fleet monitoring, Kafka-based compliance data distribution, a live global incidents layer for Container Intelligence, redesigned terminal live metrics, and threshold-based congestion notifications.

Who should use compliance alerts? 

Compliance officers, risk managers, and operations teams who monitor vessels of interest and need to respond to high-risk events — including dark STS transfers, AIS spoofing, and high-risk port calls — without continuous manual monitoring.

What is the false flag risk indicator? 

It detects when a vessel may be misreporting its flag state by comparing AIS transmissions against GISIS vessel registry data, strengthening sanctions screening and deceptive shipping detection.

Is there an extra cost for the new Container Intelligence features? 

No. The Incidents layer, terminal live metrics, and congestion notifications are all included in existing Container Intelligence subscriptions at no extra cost. API access to incidents data is subject to a separate commercial agreement.

How often is the incidents feed updated? 

Every three hours, drawing from thousands of global sources. Incidents remain visible until resolved, at which point they are removed from the live display.

Can I set notifications for multiple terminals at once? 

Yes. You can combine an unlimited number of terminals or entire ports into a single notification rule, and add relaxation conditions to be alerted when congestion improves.