Don't know how many members have heard of AIS? The official blurb runs like this:
As part of the global maritime safety system, ships over 300 tons are now required to broadcast their positions using AIS.
A ship transmits "dynamic" information at intervals of between 2 and 12 seconds depending on the vessel's speed or 3 minutes if at anchor.
MMSI number
Navigation status, e.g. 'at anchor' or 'underway'
Ground speed, from 0 to 102 knots in steps of 0.1 knots
Rate of turn, 0 to 720 degrees per minute
Position (GPS latitude and longitude)
Heading and Course over Ground
Time stamp
Then every six minutes "static" information is transmitted:
MMSI number
Callsign
Ship's name
Type of ship (See AIS Type below)
Width, length and draught
Antenna Location
Destination
Estimated time of arrival (ETA) You can have UK coverage - which is free but not 'live' via:
http://www.aisliverpool.org.uk/what.php and the drop down menu allows you to look at what is happening. I recently followed the whole of the 'Riverdance' interest on AIS - right up to when she grounded.
However, the Dutch have gone one better and allow live AIS to be accompanied by a radio scanner, so allowing you to hear as well as plot the ships. The web page for the AIS is here:
http://www.scannernet.nl/AIS%20Google%20Online%20DSC.html and covers all the Dutch coast. It has a radio on it - port control at Harlingen - but a seperate radio scanner is available from Ijmuiden - the entyrance for Amsterdam - and this runs 24 hours. You can find it here:
http://members.home.nl/krid/livescanner.html The default station is Harlingen, so when you have the AIS maop up, change the scanner channel to Ijmuiden (if that is what you are listening to) and you are there - live movement and audio!
Yes, it is mostly in Dutch but most vessels use English.
Alas, the UK does not allow live scanner feeds (more is the pity) but as an adjunct to model boating, this is the next best thing to being at the sea side, with the fish and chips in the paper, watching them come and go!
Hope it attracts someone's interest!
Jonty