Ships in the Aegean Sea

Ferries and passenger ships

Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio connect Attica with the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese and the north-east Aegean. Fast ferries can show speeds above 25 knots. In summer the meltemi, the strong northerly wind, can delay or stop sailings — check the operator and the port authority.

Cargo ships and tankers

Through traffic links the Dardanelles with the eastern Mediterranean, and large ports such as Piraeus, Thessaloniki and Izmir handle containers and bulk cargo. Many ships wait at anchor in the Saronic Gulf; at anchor they show almost zero speed.

Yachts, fishing boats and small craft

Many small boats do not carry AIS or switch it off, so the map shows only part of them. A clear area on the map is not proof that no boats are there.

Military and government ships

Warships and patrol boats often do not transmit AIS. Official exercises and firing areas are announced in the navigational warnings, not on the AIS map.

AIS positions are reported by the ships themselves and can be delayed, wrong or missing. Not for navigation.