Surpass AIS tracking with Mercury.

Mercury prioritizes security and privacy, without keeping you in the dark.

Mercury is MariTrace’s secure, onboard device that keeps vessels visible in the MariTrace interface — using your vessel’s existing systems and internet — even when AIS isn’t updating. Get peace of mind with premium visibility and protection alongside conventional AIS tracking.

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Mercury Spec Sheet

Features & Benefits

✅ Private & Encrypted

Only authorized users access your vessel’s position.

✅ AIS Augmentation

Works when AIS is off or unreliable.

✅ Fast & Reliable

Default updates every minute (configurable up to 1 Hz).

✅ Offline Resilience

Caches data when offline; syncs automatically.

✅ Wide Compatibility

Supports NMEA 0183/2000 and existing GPS.

✅ Easy Setup

Installs in 30 mins—powered via 12V/24V or standard socket.

✅ Global Connectivity

Uses onboard internet, or we supply Starlink hardware.

✅ API-Ready

Access raw data directly for custom workflows.

How it works

Simplified line drawing of a suitcase with handle and two small wheels at the bottom

Mount Mercury

Connect to your vessel’s GPS/NMEA and power.

Line drawing of a satellite dish on a boat

Go Live

Device begins transmitting encrypted position data via existing internet to MariTrace.

Outline of a location pin with a lock icon inside

Stay visible

Position updates feed into your version of MariTrace—regardless of AIS status.

Icon of a globe, a ship, and an eye, representing global shipping and oversight.

Share smart

Control who sees what, when, and for how long.

Who it’s for

Commercial Fleets

Maintain compliance and oversight when AIS falters.

Insurers & Security Teams

Generate verifiable, defensible routes—even in blackout zones.

Yachts

Discreet tracking when privacy matters most.

A gray military or rescue boat moving through the water, with a rescue zone sign on the side, and a ship in the distance on a cloudy day.
A busy port with large cargo ships docked and container cranes loading and unloading containers, with the sea and several ships in the background.
Several large yachts docked at a marina during sunset, with a hillside city and mountains in the background.

Evidence from the Mercury fleet

Case studies and white papers

Real incidents, anonymised, and what Mercury's data showed in each.

White paper · MT-WP-001

Can you trust your own AIS?

How often a vessel's own AIS is silent, wrong or too sparse to answer the question that matters - and what an independent source on board changes.

Download the white paper

Case study · MT-CS-001

Good data in, wrong data out

A vessel making 6 knots was broadcasting up to 80 on AIS. Mercury showed the fault lay in her transponder.

Download PDF

Case study · MT-CS-003

Where was she at dawn?

A trawler alleged contact while her own AIS was off. Mercury had already recorded where the support vessel was.

Download PDF

Case study · MT-CS-004

Nearly one in three

In a 72-hour sample, nearly one in three Mercury-fitted vessels dropped off third-party AIS for an hour or more. Mercury saw them throughout.

Download PDF

Case study · MT-CS-005

Wired in once, useful for years

Instrument feeds connected at installation brought wind, heading and depth into view later, with no return visit.

Download PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Mercury is MariTrace’s onboard encrypted device. It connects your vessel’s existing GNSS (e.g. GPS, GLONASS…etc.)t o your existing internet connection and securely transmits positions to the MariTrace platform — keeping you visible even when AIS isn’t updating.

  • We can ship Mercury directly to your vessel for installation by your engineer, with full telephone support available if needed. If you’d prefer, a MariTrace engineer can also visit the vessel and handle the installation for you.

  • Installation is quick and non-disruptive. Mercury connects to your existing tracking NMEA feed and router, with power supplied via a 12V/24V line or standard socket. In most cases, installation takes just 15–30 minutes.

  • No. AIS remains mandatory under SOLAS and should only be switched off for specific safety or security reasons. Mercury enhances AIS, providing reliable encrypted tracking whenever AIS is unavailable, malfunctioning, or broadcasting incorrectly. Even if AIS is silent, Mercury continues transmitting secure position updates.

  • By default, once per minute. If needed, Mercury can be configured to update as frequently as once per second (1 Hz).

  • No. All transmissions are end-to-end encrypted. Data is only visible within MariTrace to you and the specific users you choose to share it with.

  • Yes. You have full control. You can grant access to your vessel’s positions coming from the Mercury box with other MariTrace users — for example, your CSO, security team, insurer, flag state, charterer, owner, or even friends and family. You decide who sees your positions and for how long.

  • Mercury automatically caches positions while offline. As soon as the connection resumes, the device syncs all stored positions so your movement history remains complete.

  • Mercury data can be accessed directly via API, allowing you to integrate encrypted positions into your own platforms or analytics systems.

  • Mercury can be installed on any asset with GPS, power, and internet connectivity. If one of these is missing, contact us — we can recommend alternative solutions to keep your assets visible.

Take vessel tracking to the next level

Mercury adds the layer standard AIS can’t. Secure, reliable, always visible.

What can Mercury do for you?

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