Northwest Atlantic Vessel Density Maps from 2013 to 2022 AIS Data

Northwest Atlantic shipping activity is mapped using Automatic Identification System (AIS) data from 2013 to 2022. Fisheries and Oceans Canada produced yearly and monthly vessel density maps for all vessel classes combined, as well as yearly maps for individual vessel classes. The 2019 data specifically provides a pre-COVID-19 baseline depiction of maritime transport.

Use Cases

• Analyze yearly vessel density maps to identify shipping corridors and traffic patterns in the Northwest Atlantic for marine spatial planning.
• Compare monthly vessel density maps across different years to assess seasonal variations in maritime activity.
• Study yearly density maps for specific vessel classes to understand the spatial distribution of different ship types, such as cargo or passenger vessels.
• Use the 2019 density maps as a baseline to measure the impact of external events, like the COVID-19 pandemic, on subsequent years' shipping densities.

Strengths

• Provides a 10-year time series of vessel density data from 2013 to 2022, enabling longitudinal analysis.
• Includes separate yearly density maps for individual vessel classes, allowing for type-specific spatial analysis.
• The 2019 data offers a specific pre-pandemic baseline for comparative studies of maritime traffic.

Limitations

• The dataset consists of pre-processed density maps (rasters/PDFs), not the raw AIS point data, limiting flexibility for novel spatial analyses.
• AIS coverage is mandatory only for larger vessels (e.g., >300 gross tonnage on international voyages), potentially underrepresenting smaller vessel traffic.
• The analysis and maps are confined to the Northwest Atlantic region, limiting geographic generalizability.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis of satellite and terrestrial-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) ship tracking data.

Time Range

2013 to 2022

Freshness

Data covers up to 2022; the metadata was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Northwest Atlantic