NOAA AIS Data Reveals 50,000 US Boat Names, From Puns to Portfolio Plays

Jon Keegan has published an analysis of more than 50,000 boat names extracted from the US National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. Sourced from vessel traffic along US waterways, the dataset highlights creative naming conventions among both recreational and commercial boaters, revealing a mix of nautical puns, popular culture references, and indicators of owner wealth or profession.

The AIS system is mandatory for most commercial vessels 65 feet and over, requiring them to broadcast their precise location and identity. However, many recreational boaters also broadcast voluntarily. The data was collected from NOAA’s Marine Cadastre “broadcast points” vessel traffic data, which captures AIS signals from terrestrial stations along US waterways. While AIS vessel names are not a comprehensive government registry, the analysis sampled roughly 150,000 unique boats, of which about 50,000 had names.

Recreational “pleasure craft” make up approximately 43% of the boats in the sample, followed by cargo ships at 14%. The remaining vessels include fishing boats, tugs, passenger ferries, and military or search and rescue units. The analysis notes that boat ownership in the US is predominantly white, with a 2018 US Coast Guard survey indicating that 82.9% of boat-owning households were white. The survey also estimated that approximately 12% of US households, or roughly 14.5 million, owned or co-owned a recreational boat at that time.

The names often reflect the financial status and professions of their owners. With yearly expenses ranging from $15,000 to $40,000, boat ownership is associated with higher income levels. This is evident in names such as LIQUID ASSETS, BLUE CHIP III, PORT FOLIO, TRADE DESK, RISK & REWARD, MUTUAL FUN, and 401(PLAY). Legal professionals appear to favour names like LAW DAWG, PRO BONO, MOTION GRANTED, CASE CLOSED, OVERRULED, TESTIMONY, NAUT2GUILTY, and DUE DILIGENCE. Medical practitioners have chosen names including THE CADUCEUS, SPIKE AND WAVE, SEROTONIN, ENDORFIN, DOC ON THE BAY, and DOCTOR’S ORDERS.

Popular culture references are abundant, spanning Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Seinfeld. Star Wars names include THE MANDALORIAN, KESSEL RUN, RED TWO, THE DARKSIDE, CHEWBACCA, YODA, and LANDO. Lord of the Rings references feature GANDALF, SHADOWFAX, LADY GALADRIEL II, RIVENDELL, ARWEN, IDRIL, BILBOAT BAGGINS, and PRECIOUS. Seinfeld is the most frequently referenced TV show, with names like ELAINE, KRAMER, THE “HELLO NEWMAN”, NO SOUP FOR YOU, MARBLE RYE, SERENITY NOW, FESTIVUS, and MASTER OF MY DOMAIN. Other cultural nods include NOSTROMO, BELAFONTE, BLACK PEARL, A BIGGER BOAT, DAS BOOT, STRANGELOVE, INCEPTION, SPIRITED AWAY, RUBY SLIPPERS, ROSEBUD, INCONCEIVABLE, BYE FELICIA, THE TARDIS, IMPULSE POWER, HOLODECK 3, MAKE IT SO, S.S.MINNOW, PARTY OF FIVE, THE OFFICE, UGLY BETTY, HAPPY DAYS, and FANTASY ISLAND.

The dataset also includes a significant number of names with sexual innuendo or nautical puns. Examples include NAUTI-BOY, GET KNOTTY, LOVE MACHINE 7, SEA SLUT II, SCREAMING O, HOOTER PATROL III, FRISKY LADY, THICK CHICK, AFTERNOON DELIGHT, WET DREAM, WETTER THE BETTER, and WET TUSH. Literary references are also present, with names such as SANTIAGO, GOOD OL SANCHO, TOM SAWYER, HUCK FINN II, RED OCTOBER, MARLEY'S GHOST, GRENDEL, TIMSHEL, ONEGIN, and PRYDWEN.

While the data provides a snapshot of boating culture, it has limitations. The data represents only boats transmitting AIS within range of terrestrial stations, which may not be a fully representative sample of all US boat names. The demographic data cited is from a 2018 survey and may not reflect current trends. Furthermore, the connection between boat names and owner professions or wealth is inferred by the author and not explicitly verified by the data source.