Topic
Marine Transportation
Marine Transportation data and maps are developed and reviewed with robust input from data providers, stakeholders, and experts including mariners, fishermen, port authorities, pilots, and industry representatives. Data in the Marine Transportation topic are organized into three subtopics: Navigation, Commercial Traffic, and Proposed Areas and Studies. New annual and monthly data on Commercial Traffic are added in the first quarter each year, when they become available for the prior year. Data for the other two subtopics are added, updated, and/or removed on an ongoing basis.
Subtopics: Navigation, Commercial Traffic, Proposed Areas and Studies
See also: Agency Actions > Coast Guard Proposed Actions provides information about proposed rules, Port Access Route Studies (PARS), and other actions relevant to marine transportation, including public comment opportunities.
Latest Updates
16-Sep-2025: New 2024 Vessel Traffic Data, Maps, and Tools
29-Apr-2025: Coast Guard First District Coastal Buoy Modernization Initiative Proposal
Data Providers and Sources
- Marine Cadastre
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- North American Submarine Cable Association
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Coast Guard
- US Department of Transportation
Subtopic
Navigation
Navigation data products shows boundaries of designated and identified marine transportation areas for commercial and recreational vessels in the region.
Data Considerations
Many of the features on the Navigation map are officially designated and actively maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Navy, and their locations are well established. Examples include anchorages; maintained channels; safety, security, and regulated zones; danger zones and restricted areas; and boundaries of the Mandatory Ship Reporting System. Some of the pilot boarding areas on the map are not designated by federal or state government authorities. However, they are well known and considered important by the maritime commerce sector.
Examples of Data
- Traffic Lanes
- Danger Zones Restricted Areas
Subtopic
Commercial Traffic
This map series shows the vessel transit counts or relative density of large commercial cargo, tanker, tug-tow, passenger, fishing, recreation, other, or all vessels in 2011-2013 and 2015-2024. These maps are based on data received from Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). Maps generally show the annual vessel activity; for select years and vessel types, maps also show monthly activity.
Data Considerations
Not all vessels are equipped with AIS, nor are all vessels required to carry and operate an AIS. AIS utilizes radio frequency transmissions, and therefore the effective range at which a vessel can be detected can vary widely based on atmospheric conditions and equipment configuration. For these maps, vessel tracks were derived from raw AIS data provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessel tracklines were used to generate transit counts or density values to convey patterns of vessel activity by vessel type.
The datasets may contain errors in vessel categorization. For example, some vessel operators did not report their vessel type or reported the wrong category by mistake, and some vessels are used for multiple purposes but are included in only one AIS category (e.g., a boat categorized as a pleasure craft that also operates as a fishing vessel). In addition, while every effort is made to ensure data quality, occasional errors can occur in processing these data.
Example of Data
- 2024 Cargo Vessel Transit Counts
- 2024 Passenger Vessel Transit Counts
- 2024 Tug-Tow Vessel Transit Counts
- 2024 Fishing Vessel Transit Counts
Subtopic
Proposed Areas & Studies
These map layers show boundaries of US Coast Guard Port Access Route Studies (PARS) and proposed fairways and other routing measures based on PARS. For information about PARS, including Federal Register notices and opportunities for public comment, refer to the Portal’s Coast Guard Proposed Actions page.
Examples of Data
- USCG Approaches to Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts Port Access Route Study (MNMPARS) Recommended Fairways
- USCG MNMPARS Study Area