I use QGIS to access Filemaker databases via ODBC (also to map vessel data).  I find that it will refresh with new data when QGIS is forced to re-draw, by either zooming or panning the map.

I recently detailed how the QGIS-ODBC-Filemaker connection is made here:

[Filemaker Interface with QGIS][1]


  [1]: https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/130172/filemaker-interface-with-qgis/336358#336358