What is the Equasis Shipping Database?

Equasis is an online database that helps share important information in the shipping industry. It gathers details about how ships, maritime organizations, and transport companies perform. The information comes from both public and private sources.

Equasis makes it easier to access information that is often scattered or hard to find. It was created as a non-profit by the European Commission and the French Maritime Association to promote the sharing of unbiased information. The project started in 1997, and the database went live in 2000.

Since then, Equasis has provided free maritime information. It shares data on ship safety and quality for the global merchant fleet. To access the information, users just need to register. Over time, Equasis has become well-known as a trusted and open source of shipping information.

Equasis is widely recognized for offering factual information so users can make their own decisions about ships and operators. This has greatly helped improve ship safety and quality across the maritime industry.

Currently, Equasis holds data on over 85,000 ships. Ships in service that weigh more than 100 GT are included. The detailed data comes from more than 50 providers who update the database regularly. These providers include organizations like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Port State Control regimes, Classification Societies, and industry associations. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) manages and maintains the Equasis database.

The Main Goals of Equasis

Equasis was set up with the following goals:

• To reduce substandard shipping by sharing safety information on ships
• To create a non-commercial system that anyone can use globally
• To build a worldwide database of the world’s merchant fleet
• To encourage cooperation from maritime authorities around the world
• To gather and share information on ship safety and quality in one place
• To provide accurate details about ships and their management
• To share information on maritime transport companies

Although France and the European Commission cover most of the costs to run Equasis, other countries like the UK, Spain, Singapore, and Japan also provide financial support.