Update: New Terrestrial AIS Stations June 2016

• Katwijk, Netherlands
• Lagos, Nigeria
• Matara, Sri Lanka
• Mumbai, India

• Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
• Vaasa, Finland
• Walvis Bay, Namibia

Matara, Sri Lanka

Matara is a major city in Sri Lanka, on the southern coast of Southern Province, 160 km from Colombo. Historically it belongs to the area that was called the Kingdom of Ruhuna, which was one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka. Matara was previously called Mahathota. The Nilwala River runs through Matara and there was a wide area where ferries used to cross. Hence, the town was called Maha Thota which was derived from the Sanskrit word Maha Theertha, which means “the great ferry”.

see nearest port: Galle

Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos is a city in the Nigerian state of Lagos. The city, with its adjoining conurbation, is the largest in Nigeria, as well as on the African continent. Lagos is Nigeria’s economic focal point, generating a significant portion of the country’s GDP. The Port of Lagos is Nigeria’s leading port and one of the largest and busiest in Africa.
It is split into three main sections: Lagos port, Apapa Port and Tin Can Port. The port of Lagos has seen growing amounts of crude oil exported, with export figures rising between 1997 and 2000.

see port of: Lagos

Walvis Bay, Namibia

Walvis Bay is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies. The bay is a safe haven for sea vessels because of its natural deepwater harbour, protected by the Pelican Point sand spit, being the only natural harbour of any size along the country’s coast. Strategically located half way down the coast of Namibia, with direct access to principal shipping routes, Walvis Bay is a natural gateway for international trade. It is Namibia’s largest commercial port, receiving approximately 3,000 vessel calls each year and handling about 5 million tonnes of cargo.

see port of: Walvis Bay

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

At the confluence of the Oka and the Volga Rivers, Nizhny Novgorod (formerly named Gorky), founded in 1221, is the 3rd largest city of Russia is located. Although it dates back to the 13th century, the majority of its most interesting sights are from later periods. The first and foremost among these is the city’s great, brooding Kremlin, built during the 16th century. Today Nizhny Novgorod is an important center of Volga cargo and passenger shipping. During summer, cruise vessels operate between Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Astrakhan.

see port of: Nizhny Novgorod

Vaasa, Finland

Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. The port of Vaasa has a strategic location with only ten kilometres between the port and the international airport and close proximity to both the expressway and railway. The port also offers the most northern year-round passage between two countries by sea to Umeå. Vaasa Port currently handles mostly import and export of fuel, agricultural products and products from the wood and chemical industries.

see port of: Vaasa

Katwijk, Netherlands

Katwijk is a coastal municipality and town in the province of South Holland, which is situated in the mid-western part of the Netherlands. The name “Katwijk” probably has its origins in the name of a Germanic tribe called the Chatten (Chatti). The Dutch word “wijk” means “area”, so the name probably meant something like “the Chatti area”.
Katwijk aan Zee is situated in the municipality of Katwijk. For centuries fishing in the North Sea has been an important source of livelihood for Katwijk aan Zee. As there was no harbour, the fishermen used flat-bottom boats that could be launched and recovered over the beach with draft horses. At first they used small fishing-smacks (Visserspinck), from which the larger Bomschuit was developed around 1830. As fishing was not always lucrative enough, the community also engaged in shipping cargo, or in smuggling.

see nearest port: Scheveningen

Mumbai, India

Mumbai is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India.
It is served by two major ports, Mumbai Port Trust and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, which lies just across the creek in Navi Mumbai. Mumbai Port has one of the best natural harbours in the world, and has extensive wet and dry dock accommodation facilities. Jawaharlal Nehru Port is the busiest and most modern major port in India. It handles 55–60% of the country’s total containerised cargo. Ferries from Ferry Wharf in Mazagaon allow access to islands near the city. The city is also the headquarters of the Western Naval Command, and also an important base for the Indian Navy.

see port of: Mumbai