AIS (Automatic Identification System) improves safety at sea by showing vessels in real-time—like a digital radar. VHF signals are used to identify nearby vessels.
Skippo retrieves AIS data from the Swedish Maritime Administration's towers, which requires an internet connection via WiFi or mobile data. AIS helps you keep track of other boats but should always be used in combination with your own judgment and navigation skills.
Boats without an AIS transmitter can also appear in Skippo—as so-called Skippo Boats. These are other Skippo users and only appear on the chart if they are near water, have the app running, and have approved location sharing.
There are several reasons why an AIS or Skippo Boat might not appear on the chart. It could be due to signal shadowing, filtering for privacy reasons, the user being far from water, or the app not running in the background. Another reason might be lack of internet connection or that location sharing has not been enabled.
- AIS Boats: Vessels with a transmitter picked up by the Swedish Maritime Administration's towers.
- Skippo Boats: Share their GPS location through the Skippo app and are marked in yellow on the chart.
Use Cases for AIS and Skippo Boats
Find a quiet spot → Avoid crowded harbors by seeing where other leisure boats are located.
Keep track of friends → Follow their position and decide between a spontaneous meetup or a quiet getaway. “Oh, you’re here too? What a... surprise!”
Interesting vessels → See the real-time movements of military ships, icebreakers, and coast guard vessels.
In fog or darkness → Share your boat to make it visible in the app and increase safety for yourself and others.
Even though the AIS and Skippo Boats feature adds a layer of safety and awareness at sea, it’s important not to rely on it completely. Not all boats are visible—some don’t have AIS, others don’t have the app running, or have chosen not to share their position. Use the feature as a complement, not a substitute for good seamanship, visibility, and sound judgment.
Search and Filter
To locate a boat on the chart, you can filter by boat type in Map Settings or search for a user, boat name, MMSI, or callsign in the My Skippo tab.