VesselFinder

aid: vesselfinder
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/vesselfinder/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
apis:
- aid: vesselfinder:vesselfinder-ais-api
  name: VesselFinder AIS API
  tags:
  - AIS
  - Vessels
  - Maritime
  - Tracking
  humanURL: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/
  properties:
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/vessels.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/portcalls.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/expectedarrivals.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/masterdata.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/distance.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/vesselslist.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/livedata.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/status.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/listmanager.html
    type: Documentation
  - url: openapi/vesselfinder-ais-api-openapi.yml
    type: OpenAPI
  - url: json-schema/vesselfinder-vessel-schema.json
    type: JSONSchema
  - url: json-schema/vesselfinder-port-call-schema.json
    type: JSONSchema
  - url: json-structure/vesselfinder-vessel-structure.json
    type: JSONStructure
  - url: json-ld/vesselfinder-context.jsonld
    type: JSONLD
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/ais-vessels.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/ais-portcalls.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/ais-expected-arrivals.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/ais-master-data.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/ais-distance.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/ais-vessels-list.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/ais-live-data.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/ais-status.yaml
  description: |
    Credit-based and subscription REST API exposing the VesselFinder global AIS network. On-demand
    methods (Vessels, PortCalls, ExpectedArrivals, MasterData, Distance) deduct credits per call
    proportional to dataset and source (terrestrial / satellite); fleet-wide (VesselsList) and
    area-wide (LiveData) feeds are subscription-priced. Authenticates via the userkey query parameter.
    Responses default to JSON and may be requested as XML.
- aid: vesselfinder:vesselfinder-container-tracking-api
  name: VesselFinder Container Tracking API
  tags:
  - Container Tracking
  - Logistics
  - Supply Chain
  - Maritime
  humanURL: https://container.vesselfinder.com/api/1.0/docs
  properties:
  - url: https://container.vesselfinder.com/api/1.0/docs
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://www.vesselfinder.com/container-tracking
    type: Documentation
  - url: openapi/vesselfinder-container-tracking-api-openapi.yml
    type: OpenAPI
  - url: json-schema/vesselfinder-container-shipment-schema.json
    type: JSONSchema
  - url: json-ld/vesselfinder-context.jsonld
    type: JSONLD
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/container-tracking-containers.yaml
  description: |
    Real-time ocean-container track-and-trace API. Look up shipments by 11-character container
    number and optional SCAC carrier code (AUTO to auto-detect). Returns origin, destination,
    current vessel position, progress, and schedule events. Asynchronous: a first request may
    return 202 Accepted while data is fetched; clients poll the same URL every 60 seconds or
    more. Successful responses are cached for 12 hours and lookups for the same container
    within 30 days are free.
name: VesselFinder
tags:
- AIS
- Maritime
- Vessel Tracking
- Container Tracking
- Geospatial
- Logistics
- Ports
- Supply Chain
kind: contract
image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
access: 3rd-Party
common:
- type: Portal
  url: https://www.vesselfinder.com
- type: Documentation
  url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/
- type: Documentation
  url: https://container.vesselfinder.com/api/1.0/docs
- type: GettingStarted
  url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/
- url: https://www.vesselfinder.com/api
  type: Pricing
  data:
  - id: ais-credits-10k
    name: AIS Credits — 10,000
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 10000
      label: Credits
      limit: 10000
      price: 330
      metric: credit
      timeFrame: 12-months
      description: 10,000 AIS API credits. Expire 12 months after purchase. EUR.
    description: 10k credits AIS pack.
  - id: ais-credits-20k
    name: AIS Credits — 20,000
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 20000
      label: Credits
      limit: 20000
      price: 625
      metric: credit
      timeFrame: 12-months
      description: 20,000 AIS API credits. Expire 12 months after purchase. EUR.
    description: 20k credits AIS pack.
  - id: ais-credits-50k
    name: AIS Credits — 50,000
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 50000
      label: Credits
      limit: 50000
      price: 1470
      metric: credit
      timeFrame: 12-months
      description: 50,000 AIS API credits. Expire 12 months after purchase. EUR.
    description: 50k credits AIS pack.
  - id: container-tracking-1
    name: Container Tracking — 1
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 1
      label: Container
      limit: 1
      price: 7
      metric: container
      timeFrame: 12-months
      description: 1 container subscription. USD, VAT excluded.
    description: Single container subscription.
  - id: container-tracking-10
    name: Container Tracking — 10
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 10
      label: Containers
      limit: 10
      price: 65
      metric: container
      timeFrame: 12-months
      description: 10 containers. USD, VAT excluded.
    description: 10 container subscription.
  - id: container-tracking-20
    name: Container Tracking — 20
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 20
      label: Containers
      limit: 20
      price: 120
      metric: container
      timeFrame: 12-months
      description: 20 containers. USD, VAT excluded.
    description: 20 container subscription.
  - id: container-tracking-50
    name: Container Tracking — 50
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 50
      label: Containers
      limit: 50
      price: 275
      metric: container
      timeFrame: 12-months
      description: 50 containers. USD, VAT excluded.
    description: 50 container subscription.
  - id: container-tracking-100
    name: Container Tracking — 100
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 100
      label: Containers
      limit: 100
      price: 500
      metric: container
      timeFrame: 12-months
      description: 100 containers. USD, VAT excluded.
    description: 100 container subscription.
  - id: vesselslist-subscription
    name: VesselsList (Fleet) Subscription
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 1
      label: Subscription
      limit: -1
      price: Call
      metric: vessel
      timeFrame: month
      description: Fleet subscription, priced by fleet size and dataset selection.
    description: Predefined fleet subscription.
  - id: livedata-subscription
    name: LiveData (Area) Subscription
    entries:
    - geo: global
      unit: 1
      label: Subscription
      limit: -1
      price: Call
      metric: area
      timeFrame: month
      description: Area subscription, priced by area, traffic, and dataset selection.
    description: Predefined area subscription.
  name: Pricing
- url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/
  name: Implementation
  type: Documentation
- url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/
  name: FAQ
  type: FAQ
- url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/flags.html
  name: Flag Codes
  type: Documentation
- url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/aistypes.html
  name: AIS Ship Types
  type: Documentation
- url: https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/navstat.html
  name: AIS NavStat Codes
  type: Documentation
- url: https://www.vesselfinder.com/contact
  type: Support
- url: https://www.vesselfinder.com/terms
  type: TermsOfService
- url: https://www.vesselfinder.com/privacy
  type: PrivacyPolicy
- url: https://route.vesselfinder.com
  name: Route Planner
  type: Tool
- url: https://www.vesselfinder.com/news
  type: Blog
- url: https://twitter.com/VesselFinder
  type: Twitter
- url: https://www.facebook.com/vesselfinder
  type: Facebook
- url: https://www.youtube.com/vesselfinder
  type: YouTube
- url: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vesselfinder-lite/id918080862
  name: VesselFinder for iOS
  type: Application
- url: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.astrapaging.vff
  name: VesselFinder for Android
  type: Application
- url: https://github.com/VesselFinder
  type: GitHubOrganization
- url: https://github.com/VesselFinder/vesselfinder-api-wrapper
  name: VesselFinder AIS API Wrapper (PHP, Python)
  type: SDK
- url: https://github.com/VesselFinder/container-tracking-api-wrapper
  name: VesselFinder Container Tracking API Wrapper (PHP, Python)
  type: SDK
- type: Plans
  url: plans/vesselfinder-plans-pricing.yml
- type: RateLimits
  url: rate-limits/vesselfinder-rate-limits.yml
- type: FinOps
  url: finops/vesselfinder-finops.yml
- type: Vocabulary
  url: vocabulary/vesselfinder-vocabulary.yml
- type: Spectral
  url: rules/vesselfinder-rules.yml
- type: Features
  data:
  - Global AIS vessel tracking network — terrestrial receivers plus satellite AIS coverage
  - On-demand REST endpoints for vessel positions (Vessels), port arrivals/departures (PortCalls), and expected arrivals (ExpectedArrivals)
  - Static vessel particulars (MasterData) including flag, type, dimensions, tonnage, TEU, deadweight
  - Three dataset families — AIS (dynamic), Voyage (last port call), Master (static particulars)
  - Sea-route distance and routing API with optional canal/strait gateway preferences and ECA handling
  - Subscription feeds — VesselsList for a predefined fleet, LiveData for a predefined rectangular area
  - Fleet watchlist management via ListManager (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
  - Container Tracking API — track ocean-freight containers by container number with optional SCAC carrier
  - Asynchronous container lookups with 202 polling and 12-hour caching
  - Credit-metered AIS billing (terrestrial 1 credit, satellite 10 credits, master 2–3 credits, distance 1 credit)
  - Prepaid AIS credit packs (10k / 20k / 50k) priced in EUR; container subscriptions priced in USD
  - JSON (default) and XML response formats
  - API key authentication via the userkey query parameter
  - Reference taxonomies — Flag Codes, AIS Ship Types, AIS NavStat
  - Official PHP and Python wrapper libraries on GitHub for both AIS and Container Tracking APIs
  - VesselFinder web platform, iOS/Android apps, embeddable maps, fleet explorer, and route planner
  sources:
  - https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/
  - https://container.vesselfinder.com/api/1.0/docs
  - https://www.vesselfinder.com/api
  - https://github.com/VesselFinder
  updated: '2026-05-25'
created: '2026-05-25T00:00:00.000Z'
modified: '2026-05-25'
position: Consuming
description: |
  VesselFinder is a maritime intelligence company operating a global AIS vessel-tracking network
  (terrestrial AIS plus satellite AIS) and offering ship positions, voyage history, vessel
  particulars, port-call events, sea-distance routing, and ocean-container track-and-trace through
  its developer APIs. The platform pairs a credit-metered AIS REST API (Vessels, PortCalls,
  ExpectedArrivals, MasterData, Distance, plus subscription feeds VesselsList and LiveData) with a
  separate Container Tracking API that returns shipment schedules and real-time vessel positions
  by container number. VesselFinder also runs a public web map, iOS/Android apps, an embeddable
  map widget, a fleet explorer, and a route planner.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: [email protected]
  X: apievangelist
  url: https://apievangelist.com
specificationVersion: '0.16'