AIS Navigation Status Codes
Understanding the 16 navigation status codes transmitted by vessels via AIS to indicate their current operational state.
Complete Navigation Status Reference
All 16 possible navigation status values as defined in the ITU-R M.1371 standard. These codes are transmitted in AIS messages 1, 2, and 3.
| Code | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Under way using engine | Vessel is moving under its own power |
| 1 | At anchor | Vessel is anchored and stationary |
| 2 | Not under command | Vessel unable to maneuver as required by rules |
| 3 | Restricted manoeuvrability | Vessel limited in ability to maneuver due to work |
| 4 | Constrained by her draught | Vessel limited by water depth relative to draught |
| 5 | Moored | Vessel secured to a fixed structure or dock |
| 6 | Aground | Vessel has run aground |
| 7 | Engaged in Fishing | Vessel actively fishing (not transiting) |
| 8 | Under way sailing | Vessel moving under sail only |
| 9 | Reserved for future amendment | HSC (High-Speed Craft) in some implementations |
| 10 | Reserved for future amendment | WIG (Wing-In-Ground) in some implementations |
| 11 | Power-driven vessel towing astern | Vessel towing another vessel or object |
| 12 | Power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside | Vessel pushing or towing alongside |
| 13 | Reserved for future use | Not currently assigned |
| 14 | AIS-SART (active) | Search and Rescue Transponder is active |
| 15 | Undefined | Default value, status not set |
Most Common Navigation Statuses
In practice, you'll encounter these five statuses most frequently in AIS data.
Under way using engine
~60%
of all AIS data
Moored
~25%
of all AIS data
At anchor
~8%
of all AIS data
Engaged in Fishing
~3%
of all AIS data
Undefined
~2%
of all AIS data
Important: Navigation Status Reliability
Navigation status is manually set by the vessel's crew and is often not updated correctly. Common issues include:
- Vessels showing "Under way" while actually moored
- Fishing vessels not updating to "Engaged in Fishing"
- Default value (15) left unchanged
Best practice: Combine navigation status with speed, heading changes, and position patterns for more accurate vessel state determination.
Using Navigation Status in Applications
How different industries leverage navigation status data for operational insights.
Port Operations
Track vessels transitioning between moored, at anchor, and under way states
Fishing Monitoring
Identify vessels actively fishing vs transiting between fishing grounds
Safety Alerts
Monitor for emergency conditions requiring attention
Traffic Analysis
Understand vessel movement patterns and congestion
Navigation Status in API Response
The navstat field in our API returns the numeric navigation status code.
{
"mmsi": "211234567",
"name": "ATLANTIC STAR",
"navstat": 0,
"navstat_text": "Under way using engine",
"speed": 12.4,
"course": 245.5,
"heading": 244,
"lat": 51.8892,
"lon": 4.3456,
"timestamp": "2024-01-15T14:32:18Z"
}Our API provides both the numeric code (navstat) and human-readable text (navstat_text) for convenience.
Query Vessels by Navigation Status with Our API
Now you can programmatically find all vessels matching a specific navigation status using our Vessels by Navigation Status API. Filter by status, world zone, vessel type, and laden condition to identify vessels that meet your exact criteria.
POST https://datadocked.com/api/vessels_operations/get-vessels-by-navigational-status
Headers:
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY
Content-Type: application/json
Body:
{
"navigational_status": "at-anchor",
"world_zone": "baltic-sea",
"vessel_type": "bulk-carrier",
"laden": "ballast"
}
Response:
{
"vessels": [
{
"imo": "9876543",
"mmsi": "123456789",
"name": "VESSEL NAME",
"country": "Panama",
"shipType": "Bulk Carrier"
}
]
}Use Cases
- • Find vessels at anchor in specific regions
- • Identify available tonnage for cargo bookings
- • Monitor fleet operational status
- • Track vessels by laden/ballast condition
Navigation Status Values
- •
under-way- Vessel underway using engine - •
at-anchor- Vessel at anchor - •
moored- Vessel moored - •
drifting- Vessel drifting (no zone needed)
Access Real-Time Navigation Status Data
Get live vessel positions with navigation status updates through our API. Start with 100 free credits.