Boat Beacon

Boat Beacon

Download on App Store
Logo of Boat Beacon

Boat Beacon: Your Essential AIS Ship Tracker and Collision Warning System

Navigate with confidence and peace of mind. Get real-time AIS data, over-the-horizon collision alarms, and augmented reality views directly on your iPhone or Apple Watch—no expensive hardware required.

Publisher

Pocket Mariner Ltd.

Category

Navigation

Downloads

278K+

User Rating

4.5/5

Total Ratings

2K+

Locales

4

Your Digital Lookout

Discover the interface used by 278K+ users.

Boat Beacon mobile app interface showing live AIS ship tracking on a marine chart.

Boat Beacon mobile app interface showing live AIS ship tracking on a marine chart.

Boat Beacon app interface showing real time vessel tracking and collision alerts on a nautical map

Boat Beacon app interface showing real time vessel tracking and collision alerts on a nautical map

Boat Beacon app displaying detailed AIS vessel data and collision warning information

Boat Beacon app displaying detailed AIS vessel data and collision warning information

Boat Beacon app displaying NOAA marine charts with real-time AIS ship tracking in Miami harbor.

Boat Beacon app displaying NOAA marine charts with real-time AIS ship tracking in Miami harbor.

Boat Beacon app screen showing boat specifications and maritime safety alarm settings including collision distance and anchor watch.

Boat Beacon app screen showing boat specifications and maritime safety alarm settings including collision distance and anchor watch.

Smartphone screen showing Boat Beacon's augmented reality LiveView with a yellow course line and ship information overlaid on a real-time ocean view.

Smartphone screen showing Boat Beacon's augmented reality LiveView with a yellow course line and ship information overlaid on a real-time ocean view.

Boat Beacon app settings screen showing configuration for collision anchor and man overboard alerts

Boat Beacon app settings screen showing configuration for collision anchor and man overboard alerts

Boat Beacon app showing AIS ship tracking in dark mode for night navigation

Boat Beacon app showing AIS ship tracking in dark mode for night navigation

Boat Beacon Apple Watch app interface showing navigation data compass timer and map views

Boat Beacon Apple Watch app interface showing navigation data compass timer and map views

Boat Beacon night infrared augmented reality view identifying a ship with FLIR ONE camera

Boat Beacon night infrared augmented reality view identifying a ship with FLIR ONE camera

Navigate with Absolute Confidence

The tools that make this app stand out, trusted by 278K+ users.

🚨

Smart Collision Avoidance

Get instant alerts for potential collisions with continuous CPA calculations and alarms that work even when the app is in the background.

📱

Hardware-Free AIS

Transmit and receive your position using cellular data, making you visible to other vessels and shore stations without installing a transponder.

Apple Ecosystem Ready

Keep your hands on the helm and your eyes on the water with full Apple Watch integration and hands-free Siri voice commands.

About the app

Everything you need to know about Boat Beacon.

Description

Boat Beacon is an internet AIS receiver and transmitter for your iPhone and iPad. It is the only AIS ship tracking app to provide Collision Warnings, share your boat’s position & use real-time AIS data. Connected to the largest network of AIS shore receivers world-wide covering most major ports, harbours and popular coastal areas. “An outstanding app, with great potential. Both interesting to use and very user friendly. This could be a life saver and especially of interest to small boat users. Everyone who goes on the water should have this on and use it!” ***** Sun Dream, App Store Review Boat Beacon is designed for boaters & provides continuous Bearing, Range & Closest Point of Approach (CPA) calculations and alarms in addition to standard AIS information even when in the background. Boat Beacon does not require any external AIS transponder or receiver equipment. Key Features ------------ Over-the-horizon collision avoidance (30 miles radius) using continuous CPA calculations - highlights boats that are on a potential collision course and alerts you with an alarm. Continually transmits and receives position information via the internet and calculates and alarms CPA even when the app is in the background. Shares your position with Internet AIS Systems & apps & other Boat Beacon users in real time. Real time ship map view with North up & Heading up modes so you can look in the direction of the ships on the map to locate them. Nav display showing own boat's speed, course, heading and position. SART Alarm Man Overboard tracking, Anchor watch & Theft alarms (IAP). Apple Watch App included Siri voice commands Export tracks Boat-to-Boat & Group Messaging. Local AIS & GPS via Wifi. Boat Beacon InApp Add-ons:- LiveView - Augmented Reality view with ships, compass & horizon overlaid. Works with FLIROne IR cameras as well to see ships & people in the dark & fog (IAP) "AIS Sharing" to other apps like Navionics & iNavX (IAP subscription) US, UK and IE Marine raster charts (IAP). MOB and Anchor Watch (IAP). Let Friends and Family see where you are and where you're headed to with our free Boat Watch app or on web-based AIS systems like MarineTraffic which have free web viewers available. Arm all the crews in a race with Boat Beacon and have real time updates on the race positions on the water and back in the club house. Keep a watch and in touch with other boats in your flotilla when sailing in a group. Boat Beacon requires internet access to work. Most popular coastal areas have cellular data access extending 12 or more miles out to sea. Subscriptions The "AIS Sharing " subscription is monthly ($5.99) or yearly ($16.49), and will automatically renew at the end of the subscription period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase, and will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by the iTunes account holder and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings after purchase. 
No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Terms of Use: http://seanav.net/termsofuse.php Privacy Policy: http://seanav.net/privacy.php Support: help@pocketmariner.com Your position can be shared and seen on all our apps without using an MMSI number. To be seen on Global AIS systems like MarineTraffic you need an MMSI number. In the US you can obtain one by visiting http://www.boatus.com/mmsi or email us for a free internet MMSI number. Please note that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. NOT FOR NAVIGATION Boat Beacon should only be used for basic navigation reference and should not be solely relied upon to determine precise locations, proximity, distance, or direction. You will not be visible to other ships on VHF only AIS systems.

Latest Version

5.0.12

Size

150.5 MB

First Released

Feb 16, 2012

Set Sail with Total Peace of Mind

Join over 278,000 mariners who trust Boat Beacon for real-time AIS tracking and collision alerts. Get professional-grade safety on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch without the expensive hardware.

Download on App Store
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Boat Beacon

What is the primary function of Boat Beacon?

Boat Beacon is an internet AIS receiver and transmitter for iPhone and iPad. It provides collision warnings, real-time AIS data, and shares your boat’s position.

Does Boat Beacon require external AIS hardware?

No, Boat Beacon does not require any external AIS transponder or receiver equipment. It functions using internet access for data transmission and reception.

How does Boat Beacon provide collision avoidance?

Boat Beacon offers over-the-horizon collision avoidance up to 30 miles. It continuously calculates Closest Point of Approach (CPA) and alerts users to potential collision courses with an alarm.

Can Boat Beacon share my boat's location with others?

Yes, Boat Beacon shares your boat's position with Internet AIS Systems, other Boat Beacon users, and apps in real time via the internet.

Does Boat Beacon have an Apple Watch application?

Yes, Boat Beacon includes an Apple Watch app. It provides real-time navigation displays directly on your Apple Watch, showing speed, course, and heading.

What types of marine charts are available in Boat Beacon?

Boat Beacon offers US, UK, and IE Marine raster charts as an In-App Purchase (IAP). These charts provide detailed navigational information for specific regions.

What is the cost of the "AIS Sharing" subscription in Boat Beacon?

The "AIS Sharing" subscription for Boat Beacon costs $5.99 monthly or $16.49 yearly. It automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours prior.

Is Boat Beacon certified for official marine navigation?

No, Boat Beacon is explicitly "NOT FOR NAVIGATION". It serves only as a basic navigation reference and should not be solely relied upon for precise maritime navigation.

Can Boat Beacon track a Man Overboard incident?

Yes, Boat Beacon includes Man Overboard (MOB) tracking as an In-App Purchase. This feature tags the current position to assist in tracking and recovery efforts.

Does Boat Beacon support augmented reality features?

Yes, Boat Beacon features LiveView, an Augmented Reality (AR) view available as an In-App Purchase. It overlays ships, compass, and horizon onto a camera feed.

How does Boat Beacon display ship information?

Boat Beacon displays detailed ship information on a map view with North up or Heading up modes. Users can also view specific ship details like MMSI, speed, course, and CPA.

App information, icons, screenshots, and descriptions displayed on this page are sourced from the Apple App Store and are the property of their respective developers. Download estimates and rankings are based on MWM's proprietary models and may not reflect actual figures. This page is provided for informational and analytical purposes only.

Believe this page infringes your intellectual property? File a dispute