Vessel and aircraft registries, by jurisdiction.
A curated guide to authoritative vessel and aircraft ownership registers, transponder-tracking services, and cross-border movement data relevant to asset-tracing and risk-screening matters.
How vessel and aircraft research works
Ships and aircraft are registered in defined jurisdictions, carry persistent identifiers, and transmit position data through international tracking standards. This combination makes them more traceable than most movable assets, with a few jurisdiction-specific caveats:
- Registries vs. flags. A ship’s flag-state register identifies the owner of record; some flag states (open registries / “flags of convenience”) have shallow disclosure requirements.
- Identifiers. IMO numbers (vessels) and ICAO 24-bit addresses (aircraft) are persistent across name changes and re-registrations. They are the right starting point for an investigation.
- AIS and ADS-B. Automatic Identification System (vessels) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (aircraft) provide near-real-time position data. Both can be spoofed or switched off; absence of signal is itself a signal.
- Beneficial ownership. Vessel and aircraft ownership is often held through holding companies, charter arrangements, and bareboat charters in different jurisdictions. The flag-state register identifies the registered owner; beneficial ownership often requires further research.
- Sanctions overlay. Vessels and aircraft are commonly listed on consolidated sanctions registers (see International Sanctions & Watchlists). Cross-checking against IMO and ICAO identifiers is essential.
International vessel registries and identifiers
IMO — International Maritime Organization Identifiers
Type: Global vessel-identifier system. · Maintained by: International Maritime Organization.
Cost / access: Free public lookup via the GISIS portal (registration may be required for some products).
Useful for: Verifying IMO numbers for ships, identifying current and former vessel names, flag history, vessel type, gross tonnage, and registered owner / operator of record.
Limitations: GISIS is comprehensive but requires registration for some queries. Beneficial ownership behind registered owner often opaque.
Official link: gisis.imo.org · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Equasis
Type: Aggregated vessel-data platform. · Maintained by: Equasis (operated by an international partnership of maritime authorities).
Cost / access: Free registration required.
Useful for: Consolidated vessel records sourced from classification societies, port-state-control authorities, and other maritime agencies. Includes ship particulars, history, port-state-control inspections, and detentions.
Limitations: Free for individuals; commercial use requires permission.
Official link: www.equasis.org · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Vessel position and movement
MarineTraffic
Type: AIS-based vessel-tracking platform. · Maintained by: MarineTraffic (commercial).
Cost / access: Free basic search; paid for advanced features and historical data.
Useful for: Near-real-time vessel positions worldwide via Automatic Identification System (AIS), port calls, vessel routes, and basic ship particulars. Useful for verifying current location, port history, and movement patterns.
Limitations: AIS can be spoofed or switched off; transponder-off periods can themselves be investigative leads. Coverage limited where shore-based AIS receivers are sparse.
Official link: www.marinetraffic.com · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
VesselFinder
Type: AIS-based vessel-tracking platform. · Maintained by: VesselFinder (commercial).
Cost / access: Free basic search; paid for advanced features.
Useful for: Alternative AIS-tracking platform with overlapping but distinct coverage to MarineTraffic. Useful as a cross-reference.
Limitations: Same AIS-spoofing and coverage caveats as MarineTraffic.
Official link: www.vesselfinder.com · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
National vessel registries (selected)
Australian Maritime Safety Authority — Ship Registration
Type: National vessel register. · Maintained by: Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Cost / access: Free public search.
Useful for: Australian-flagged commercial vessels and certain pleasure craft. Verifies AMSA-registered owners, vessel particulars, and registration status.
Limitations: Australian-flagged vessels only.
Official link: www.amsa.gov.au/vessels-operators/ship-registration · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
UK Ship Register
Type: National vessel register. · Maintained by: UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Cost / access: Free public search via the UK Ship Register.
Useful for: UK-flagged vessels (commercial and pleasure), bareboat-charter registrations, and small ships.
Limitations: UK-flagged vessels only.
Official link: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-ship-register · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
US Coast Guard — Vessel Documentation
Type: US federal vessel register. · Maintained by: US Coast Guard, National Vessel Documentation Center.
Cost / access: Free public search.
Useful for: US-documented vessels (over 5 net tons), owner history, mortgages, and instruments of title.
Limitations: US-documented vessels only; state-registered recreational vessels are separate.
Official link: www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Prevention-Policy-CG-5P/Inspections-Compliance-CG-5PC-/Office-of-Investigations-Casualty-Analysis/National-Vessel-Documentation-Center · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
International aircraft registries and identifiers
ICAO — International Civil Aviation Organization
Type: Global civil-aviation reference body. · Maintained by: International Civil Aviation Organization.
Cost / access: Mostly free; some products restricted.
Useful for: ICAO 24-bit addresses, registration prefixes, aircraft-type designators, airport codes, and reference standards. Foundation for any cross-border aircraft research.
Limitations: ICAO does not maintain the operating aircraft register itself — individual state authorities do.
Official link: www.icao.int · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Aircraft position and movement
Flightradar24
Type: ADS-B-based aircraft-tracking platform. · Maintained by: Flightradar24 (commercial).
Cost / access: Free basic search; paid for advanced features and historical data.
Useful for: Near-real-time aircraft positions worldwide via Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). Aircraft particulars, flight history, and operator information.
Limitations: ADS-B can be selectively disabled; some aircraft are blocked from public tracking by national arrangements. Coverage limited in some regions.
Official link: www.flightradar24.com · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
ADS-B Exchange
Type: Unfiltered ADS-B feed. · Maintained by: ADS-B Exchange (community-run).
Cost / access: Free.
Useful for: Aircraft positions worldwide from a community-contributed ADS-B receiver network. Notable for tracking aircraft that other services block from public display.
Limitations: Community-run; data quality depends on receiver coverage in the relevant area.
Official link: www.adsbexchange.com · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
National aircraft registries (selected)
Civil Aviation Safety Authority — Aircraft Register (Australia)
Type: National aircraft register. · Maintained by: Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Australia).
Cost / access: Free public search.
Useful for: Australian VH-registered aircraft, operator and owner of record, aircraft particulars.
Limitations: Australian-registered aircraft only.
Official link: www.casa.gov.au/aircraft/aircraft-register · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
UK CAA — G-Register
Type: National aircraft register. · Maintained by: UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Cost / access: Free public search via G-INFO.
Useful for: UK G-registered aircraft, operator and owner of record, type certification.
Limitations: UK-registered aircraft only.
Official link: siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
FAA — N-Number Registry (United States)
Type: US federal aircraft register. · Maintained by: Federal Aviation Administration.
Cost / access: Free.
Useful for: US N-registered aircraft, owner records, registration history, and aircraft particulars.
Limitations: US-registered aircraft only.
Official link: registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
What’s coming in Phase 3
Liberian, Marshall Islands, Panamanian, Bahamian, and other open-registry maritime authorities; Cayman Islands and Bermuda aircraft registries; Aircraft Bluebook reference data; Lloyd’s List Intelligence Maritime products (paid); IHS Markit / S&P Global vessel data (paid); IATA aircraft and operator data; specific high-value sanctioned-vessel-tracking resources (Pole Star, Windward, Kpler).
Disclaimer
General information only. This directory is provided for general information and professional research purposes only. It is not legal advice, financial advice, or due-diligence advice. Information found through any third-party source is not verified by Transglobal Intel Net.
Third-party sources. Transglobal Intel Net does not control, certify, or guarantee the accuracy, currency, or completeness of any source listed. Links are provided as starting points. Each source is maintained independently by its respective authority.
Access conditions. Some sources require payment, registration, lawful-purpose attestation, or local professional access. Users are responsible for compliance with each source’s terms of use and with applicable law.
Not a Transglobal service. Listing a source in this directory does not constitute an endorsement, a recommendation, or a Transglobal service. The directory is a reference index, not an investigative product.
Lawful use only. Users must have a lawful basis for any search undertaken. Users are responsible for compliance with privacy law, data-protection law, anti-stalking law, and any other applicable framework in their jurisdiction.
Reservation. Transglobal Intel Net may add, remove, or modify entries without notice. Outdated entries are reviewed quarterly and updated as resources change.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.