0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c English Cogea Srl luigi.falco@bip-group.com alessandro.pititto@bip-group.com 2026-03-06T14:32:46.911208Z ISO19115 2003/Cor.1:2006 EPSG:3035 ISO 19108 calendar EMODnet Human Activities, Vessel Density Map 2019-03-21 2025-12-06 2019-03-11 EMODnet_HA_Vessel_DensityMap_20251206 The Vessel Density maps in the EU are created since the 2019 by Cogea for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). The dataset is updated every year and is available for viewing and download on EMODnet web portal (Human Activities, https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The maps are based on AIS data yearly purchased from Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), ORBCOMM and vesseltracker.com. The maps, GeoTIFF format, show shipping density in 1x1km cells of a grid covering all EU waters and some neighbouring areas. Density is expressed as hours per square kilometre per month. The following ship types are available:0 Other, 1 Fishing, 2 Service, 3 Dredging or underwater ops, 4 Sailing, 5 Pleasure Craft, 6 High speed craft, 7 Tug and towing, 8 Passenger, 9 Cargo, 10 Tanker, 11 Military and Law Enforcement, 12 Unknown and All ship types. Data are available by month of year and yearly averages are also available; to date, the data cover the period 2017–2024. For the 2024 the AIS data provider experienced a loss of satellite data starting from the month of June and despite the fact that the provider tried to mitigate this important decrease of data, the average amount of data for 2024 is not dense as the previous years. Cogea Srl luigi.falco@bip-group.com alessandro.pititto@bip-group.com Cogea Srl luigi.falco@bip-group.com Lovell Johns william.adnams@lovelljohns.com CLS qdartiailh@groupcls.com https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/vd.jpg Marine Layer Marine Waterway Transport Area INSPIRE feature concept dictionary (Version: Linked Data 1.0) 2014-09-14 merchant shipping maritime navigation maritime transport GEMET (version 3.1, 2012-07-20) 2014-06-08 Transport networks Geographical grid systems GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 1000 English oceans -87.706484 97.633027 14.961111 86.842727 2017-01-01 2024-12-31 No limitations on public access Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This data was downloaded from the EMODnet Portal (https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/). The data originator is Cogea Srl. 0 https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities WWW:LINK EMODnet Human Activities EMODnet Human Activities aims to facilitate access to existing marine data on activities carried out in EU waters, by building a single entry point for geographic information on human uses of the ocean. The portal makes available information such as geographical position, spatial extent of a series of activities related to the sea, their temporal variation, time when data was provided, and attributes to indicate the intensity of each activity. The data are aggregated and presented so as to preserve personal privacy and commercially-sensitive information. The data also include a time interval so that historic as well as current activities can be included. https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_all.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_all.zip Monthly Totals - All vessel types - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_00.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_00.zip Monthly Totals - Other vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_01.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_01.zip Monthly Totals - Fishing vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_02.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_02.zip Monthly Totals - Service vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_03.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_03.zip Monthly Totals - Dredging or underwater ops - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_04.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_04.zip Monthly Totals - Sailing - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_05.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_05.zip Monthly Totals - Pleasure Craft - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_06.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_06.zip Monthly Totals - High speed craft - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_07.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_07.zip Monthly Totals - Tug and towing - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_08.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_08.zip Monthly Totals - Passenger vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_09.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_09.zip Monthly Totals - Cargo vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_10.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_10.zip Monthly Totals - Tanker - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_11.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_11.zip Monthly Totals - Military and Law Enforcement vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_12.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_12.zip Monthly Totals - Unknown - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_allAvg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_allAvg.zip Annual Averages - All vessel types - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_00Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_00Avg.zip Annual Averages - Other vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_01Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_01Avg.zip Annual Averages - Fishing vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_02Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_02Avg.zip Annual Averages - Service vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_03Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_03Avg.zip Annual Averages - Dredging or underwater ops - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_04Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_04Avg.zip Annual Averages - Sailing - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_05Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_05Avg.zip Annual Averages - Pleasure Craft - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_06Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_06Avg.zip Annual Averages - High speed craft - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_07Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_07Avg.zip Annual Averages - Tug and towing - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_08Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_08Avg.zip Annual Averages - Passenger vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_09Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_09Avg.zip Annual Averages - Cargo vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_10Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_10Avg.zip Annual Averages - Tanker - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_11Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_11Avg.zip Annual Averages - Military and Law Enforcement vessels - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_12Avg.zip WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_12Avg.zip Annual Averages - Unknown - ZIP (GeoTIFF) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/geonetwork/srv/api/records/0f2f3ff1-30ef-49e1-96e7-8ca78d58a07c/attachments/EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_Grid_20190311.7z WWW:DOWNLOAD EMODnet_HA_Vessel_Density_Grid_20190311.7z 7-Zip (File Geodatabase) https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_all Vessel Density Monthly totals - All types https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_00avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Other https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_00 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Other https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_01 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Fishing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_02 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Service https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_03 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Dredging or underwater ops https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_04 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Sailing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_05 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Pleasure Craft https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_06 Vessel Density Monthly totals - High speed craft https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_07 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Tug and towing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_08 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Passenger https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_09 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Cargo https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_10 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Tanker https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_11 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Military and Law Enforcement https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_12 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Unknown https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_allavg Vessel Density Annual Averages - All types https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_01avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Fishing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_02avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Service https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_03avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Dredging or underwater ops https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_04avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Sailing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_05avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Pleasure Craft https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_06avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - High speed craft https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_07avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Tug and towing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_08avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Passenger https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_09avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Cargo https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_10avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Tanker https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_11avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Military and Law Enforcement https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wms? OGC:WMS vesseldensity_12avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Unknown https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_all Vessel Density Monthly totals - All types https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_00 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Other https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_01 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Fishing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_02 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Service https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_03 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Dredging or underwater ops https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_04 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Sailing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_05 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Pleasure Craft https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_06 Vessel Density Monthly totals - High speed craft https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_07 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Tug and towing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_08 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Passenger https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_09 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Cargo https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_10 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Tanker https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_11 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Military and Law Enforcement https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_12 Vessel Density Monthly totals - Unknown https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_allavg Vessel Density Annual Averages - All types https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_00avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Other https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_01avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Fishing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_02avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Service https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_03avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Dredging or underwater ops https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_04avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Sailing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_05avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Pleasure Craft https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_06avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - High speed craft https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_07avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Tug and towing https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_08avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Passenger https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_09avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Cargo https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_10avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Tanker https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_11avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Military and Law Enforcement https://ows.emodnet-humanactivities.eu/wcs? OGC:WCS emodnet:vesseldensity_12avg Vessel Density Annual Averages - Unknown GEOTIFF gco:nilReason="unknown"> COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1205/2008 of 3 December 2008 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards metadata 2008-12-04 See the referenced specification true Corrigendum to INSPIRE Metadata Regulation published in the Official Journal of the European Union, L 328, page 83 2009-12-15 See the referenced specification Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 See the referenced specification true AIS data are usually purchased annually from two commercial providers, such as CLS and ORBCOMM; however, for 2024, data from Vesseltracker.com were also included. The data consists of messages sent by automatic tracking systems installed on board ships and received by terrestrial and satellite receivers alike. The acquired datasets currently cover a period from 2017 to 2024 for an area covering all EU waters. A partial pre-processing of the data is carried out by CLS: (i) The only AIS messages delivered are the ones relevant for assessing shipping activities (AIS messages 1, 2, 3, 18 and 19). (ii) The AIS data are down-sampled to 3 minutes (iii). Duplicate signals are removed. (iv) Wrong MMSI signals are removed. (v) Special characters and diacritics are removed. (vi) Signals with erroneous speed over ground (SOG) are removed (negative values or more than 80 knots). (vii) Signals with erroneous course over ground (COG) are removed (negative values or more than 360 degrees). (viii) A Kalman filter is applied to remove satellite noise. The Kalman filter is based on a correlated random walk fine-tuned for ship behaviour. The consistency of a new observation with the modelised position is checked compared to key performance indicators such as innovation, likelihood and speed. (ix) A footprint filter is applied to check for satellite AIS data consistency. All positions which are not compliant with the ship-satellite co-visibility are flagged as invalid. The AIS data are converted from their original format (NMEA) to CSV, and deliverd to Cogea split into 12 files, each corresponding to a month of the year. By running a series of commands from Linux shell, all remaining invalid characters are removed as well as unnecessary fields. The data are then imported into a PostgreSQL relational database (with the PostGIS extension), each month in a different table containing the following specialised data types: mmsi (numeric), locdate (date), loctime (time without time zone), lon (double precision), lat (double precision), aisshiptype (character varying). MMSI numbers are often associated to more than a ship type during a year. To cope with this issue, a unique MMSI/ship type register is created every year. In the register, MMSI with multiple ship types are associated the most recurring and known ship type by counting the number of record for each combination mmsi/ship type. The admissible ship types reported in the AIS messages are grouped into macrocategories: 0 Other, 1 Fishing, 2 Service, 3 Dredging or underwater ops, 4 Sailing, 5 Pleasure Craft, 6 High speed craft, 7 Tug and towing, 8 Passenger, 9 Cargo, 10 Tanker, 11 Military and Law Enforcement, 12 Unknown and All ship types. The subsequent steps consist of creating points representing ship positions from the AIS messages, then reconstructing ship routes (lines) from the points for every two consecutive positions of a ship, by using the MMSI number as a unique identifier of a ship. In addition, for each line the query calculates its length (in km) and its duration (in hours) and append them both as attributes to the line. If the distance between two consecutive positions of a ship is longer than 30 km or if the time interval is longer than 6 hours, no line is created. Both datasets (points and lines) are projected into the ETRS89/ETRS-LAEA coordinate reference system, used for statistical mapping at all scales, where true area representation is required (EPSG: 3035). Points and lines calculations are based on custom-made sql scripts developed by Cogea. The lines obtained are then intersected with a custom-made 1x1km grid polygon (21 million cells) created by Cogea, based on the EEA's national grids, extended to cover the whole area of interest (all EU sea basins) and imported in PostGIS. Because each line has length and duration as attributes, it is possible to calculate how much time each ship spent in a given cell over a month by intersecting line records with grid cell records. This is done through a custom-made sql script developed by Lovell Johns. Using the PostGIS Intersect tool, for each cell of the grid, the time value of each 'segment' in it is summed, thus obtaining the density value associated to that cell, stored in calculated PostGIS tables. Density is thus expressed in hours per square kilometre per month. The final step consists of creating and compressing, in QGIS and GDAL and from the PostGIS vessel density tables, the final raster datasets (GeoTIFF format). Annual average rasters by ship type are also finally calculated. For more details on vessel density calculations method and concepts see the technical report 'EU Vessel Density Map - Detailed Method' published at: https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/reports?field_emodnet_lot_value[]=human_activities. Comparared with the original method, starting from the 2021 (2020 data) the calculations of ship positions (points) and ship routes (lines) were sped up by moving them from ArcGIS to PostGIS through custom-made sql scripts developed by Cogea.