AISStream AIS Stream API

asyncapi: '2.6.0'
id: 'urn:io:aisstream:v0:stream'
info:
  title: AISStream Real-Time AIS Stream (WebSocket)
  version: '1.0.0'
  description: |
    AsyncAPI 2.6 description of **AISStream.io**, a free service that streams
    global real-time AIS (Automatic Identification System) vessel-tracking data
    over a **WebSocket**.

    This is a real, documented, public WebSocket API. The client opens a secure
    WebSocket to `wss://stream.aisstream.io/v0/stream`, immediately sends a single
    JSON **subscription message** (an `APIKey` plus one or more `BoundingBoxes`
    and optional `FiltersShipMMSI` / `FilterMessageTypes`), and then receives a
    continuous server-push stream of AIS messages. Each received message is an
    envelope with three top-level fields: `MessageType`, `MetaData`, and
    `Message` (the decoded payload keyed by its message type).

    There is **no REST API**. AISStream is WebSocket-only; the free API key is the
    sole credential and it is carried inside the subscription payload rather than
    in an HTTP header.

    Schemas here are grounded in the official AISStream models
    (https://github.com/aisstream/ais-message-models) and example clients
    (https://github.com/aisstream/example), plus the documentation at
    https://aisstream.io/documentation.
  contact:
    name: API Evangelist
    email: kin@apievangelist.com
    url: https://apievangelist.com
  license:
    name: AISStream.io documentation and Terms of Service
    url: https://aisstream.io/
  x-transport-notes:
    transport: WebSocket (secure)
    protocol: wss
    endpoint: 'wss://stream.aisstream.io/v0/stream'
    direction: bidirectional (client sends one subscription; server pushes AIS messages)
    authentication: Free API key carried in the JSON subscription message field `APIKey` (not an HTTP header)
    subscriptionRequired: 'A subscription message must be sent within 3 seconds of connecting or the server closes the socket.'
    source: https://aisstream.io/documentation
defaultContentType: application/json
servers:
  production:
    url: stream.aisstream.io/v0/stream
    protocol: wss
    description: |
      AISStream secure WebSocket endpoint. Connect, then send exactly one
      SubscriptionMessage as a JSON text frame. The full connection URL is
      `wss://stream.aisstream.io/v0/stream`.
    security:
      - apiKeyInPayload: []
channels:
  /v0/stream:
    description: |
      The single AISStream channel. After the WebSocket is open the client
      publishes one `SubscriptionMessage`; the server then subscribes the client
      to matching traffic and streams `AisStreamMessage` envelopes until the
      socket is closed. The subscription can be updated at any time by sending a
      new `SubscriptionMessage` over the same connection.
    bindings:
      ws:
        bindingVersion: '0.1.0'
    publish:
      operationId: sendSubscription
      summary: Send the subscription message (client to server).
      description: |
        Sent by the client as the first text frame after the socket opens, and
        optionally again to change the active filters. Declares the API key, the
        geographic bounding boxes of interest, and optional MMSI and message-type
        filters. Must be sent within 3 seconds of connecting.
      message:
        $ref: '#/components/messages/SubscriptionMessage'
    subscribe:
      operationId: receiveAisMessages
      summary: Receive the stream of AIS messages (server to client).
      description: |
        After a valid subscription is accepted, the server pushes a continuous
        stream of AIS message envelopes. Inspect the `MessageType` field to
        determine which decoded payload is present under `Message`.
      message:
        $ref: '#/components/messages/AisStreamMessage'
components:
  securitySchemes:
    apiKeyInPayload:
      type: userPassword
      description: |
        AISStream authentication is a single free API key obtained by
        registering at https://aisstream.io/. Unlike header-based schemes, the
        key is placed in the `APIKey` field of the JSON `SubscriptionMessage`
        that the client sends over the open WebSocket. AsyncAPI 2.6 has no native
        "credential in message payload" security type; `userPassword` is used as
        the closest representation and the real mechanism is documented here and
        in `info.x-transport-notes`.
  messages:
    SubscriptionMessage:
      name: SubscriptionMessage
      title: Subscription message (client to server)
      summary: The JSON message the client sends to open or update a subscription.
      contentType: application/json
      description: |
        The first frame the client sends after connecting. `APIKey` and
        `BoundingBoxes` are required; `FiltersShipMMSI` and `FilterMessageTypes`
        are optional. Coordinates in each bounding box are `[latitude, longitude]`
        pairs given as two corners of the box.
      payload:
        $ref: '#/components/schemas/SubscriptionMessage'
      examples:
        - name: worldWide
          summary: Subscribe to the entire world
          payload:
            APIKey: <YOUR API KEY>
            BoundingBoxes:
              - - - -90.0
                  - -180.0
                - - 90.0
                  - 180.0
        - name: filteredBox
          summary: One box, filtered to specific vessels and message types
          payload:
            APIKey: <YOUR API KEY>
            BoundingBoxes:
              - - - 25.835302
                  - -80.207729
                - - 25.602700
                  - -79.879297
            FiltersShipMMSI:
              - '368207620'
              - '367719770'
            FilterMessageTypes:
              - PositionReport
              - ShipStaticData
    AisStreamMessage:
      name: AisStreamMessage
      title: AIS message envelope (server to client)
      summary: A single decoded AIS message wrapped in the AISStream envelope.
      contentType: application/json
      description: |
        Every message pushed by the server has three top-level fields:
        `MessageType` (a string naming the AIS message type), `MetaData` (a
        free-form object of connection-added metadata such as MMSI, ShipName,
        latitude, longitude, and time_utc), and `Message` (an object with a
        single key equal to `MessageType` whose value is the decoded payload).
      payload:
        $ref: '#/components/schemas/AisStreamMessage'
      examples:
        - name: positionReport
          summary: A PositionReport envelope
          payload:
            MessageType: PositionReport
            MetaData:
              MMSI: 368207620
              MMSI_String: 368207620
              ShipName: 'EXAMPLE VESSEL      '
              latitude: 25.702
              longitude: -80.101
              time_utc: '2026-07-12 12:00:00.000000000 +0000 UTC'
            Message:
              PositionReport:
                MessageID: 1
                RepeatIndicator: 0
                UserID: 368207620
                Valid: true
                NavigationalStatus: 0
                RateOfTurn: 0
                Sog: 12.3
                PositionAccuracy: true
                Longitude: -80.101
                Latitude: 25.702
                Cog: 180.5
                TrueHeading: 181
                Timestamp: 30
                Raim: false
                CommunicationState: 2249
  schemas:
    SubscriptionMessage:
      type: object
      description: |
        Client subscription request. Grounded in
        github.com/aisstream/ais-message-models SubscriptionMessage.
      required:
        - APIKey
        - BoundingBoxes
      properties:
        APIKey:
          type: string
          description: The free AISStream API key obtained by registering at https://aisstream.io/.
        BoundingBoxes:
          type: array
          description: |
            One or more geographic bounding boxes. Each box is an array of two
            corner coordinates, and each coordinate is a `[latitude, longitude]`
            pair. Only vessels inside at least one box are streamed.
          items:
            type: array
            minItems: 2
            maxItems: 2
            items:
              type: array
              minItems: 2
              maxItems: 2
              items:
                type: number
              description: A '[latitude, longitude]' coordinate pair.
        FiltersShipMMSI:
          type: array
          description: |
            Optional. Restricts the stream to the listed MMSI identifiers
            (as strings). When omitted, all vessels within the bounding boxes
            are streamed.
          items:
            type: string
        FilterMessageTypes:
          type: array
          description: |
            Optional. Restricts the stream to the listed AIS message types.
            When omitted, all message types are streamed.
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/AisMessageType'
    AisStreamMessage:
      type: object
      description: The envelope wrapping every AIS message pushed by the server.
      required:
        - MessageType
        - MetaData
        - Message
      properties:
        MessageType:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/AisMessageType'
        MetaData:
          type: object
          description: |
            Free-form object of metadata AISStream adds to each message. Keys are
            not guaranteed; commonly present keys are shown below. Modeled as an
            open object (additionalProperties true).
          additionalProperties: true
          properties:
            MMSI:
              type: integer
              description: The vessel MMSI identifier.
            MMSI_String:
              type: integer
              description: The vessel MMSI as reported in the MMSI_String field.
            ShipName:
              type: string
              description: The vessel name when known (may be blank-padded).
            latitude:
              type: number
              description: Latitude associated with the message.
            longitude:
              type: number
              description: Longitude associated with the message.
            time_utc:
              type: string
              description: UTC timestamp string for when the message was received.
        Message:
          type: object
          description: |
            Object containing exactly one key, equal to `MessageType`, whose value
            is the decoded AIS payload. The most common payloads are modeled
            explicitly below; all documented message-type keys may appear.
            Modeled as an open object so any message type can be carried.
          additionalProperties: true
          properties:
            PositionReport:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/PositionReport'
            ShipStaticData:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/ShipStaticData'
    AisMessageType:
      type: string
      description: |
        The set of AIS message types AISStream can stream, from
        github.com/aisstream/ais-message-models AisMessageTypes.
      enum:
        - PositionReport
        - UnknownMessage
        - AddressedSafetyMessage
        - AddressedBinaryMessage
        - AidsToNavigationReport
        - AssignedModeCommand
        - BaseStationReport
        - BinaryAcknowledge
        - BinaryBroadcastMessage
        - ChannelManagement
        - CoordinatedUTCInquiry
        - DataLinkManagementMessage
        - DataLinkManagementMessageData
        - ExtendedClassBPositionReport
        - GroupAssignmentCommand
        - GnssBroadcastBinaryMessage
        - Interrogation
        - LongRangeAisBroadcastMessage
        - MultiSlotBinaryMessage
        - SafetyBroadcastMessage
        - ShipStaticData
        - SingleSlotBinaryMessage
        - StandardClassBPositionReport
        - StandardSearchAndRescueAircraftReport
        - StaticDataReport
    PositionReport:
      type: object
      description: |
        Decoded AIS Position Report (ITU-R M.1371 message types 1/2/3). Fields
        from github.com/aisstream/ais-message-models PositionReport.
      properties:
        MessageID:
          type: integer
        RepeatIndicator:
          type: integer
        UserID:
          type: integer
          description: The transmitting vessel MMSI.
        Valid:
          type: boolean
        NavigationalStatus:
          type: integer
        RateOfTurn:
          type: integer
        Sog:
          type: number
          description: Speed over ground (knots).
        PositionAccuracy:
          type: boolean
        Longitude:
          type: number
        Latitude:
          type: number
        Cog:
          type: number
          description: Course over ground (degrees).
        TrueHeading:
          type: integer
        Timestamp:
          type: integer
        SpecialManoeuvreIndicator:
          type: integer
        Spare:
          type: integer
        Raim:
          type: boolean
        CommunicationState:
          type: integer
    ShipStaticData:
      type: object
      description: |
        Decoded AIS Ship Static and Voyage Related Data (message type 5). Fields
        from github.com/aisstream/ais-message-models ShipStaticData.
      properties:
        MessageID:
          type: integer
        RepeatIndicator:
          type: integer
        UserID:
          type: integer
          description: The transmitting vessel MMSI.
        Valid:
          type: boolean
        AisVersion:
          type: integer
        ImoNumber:
          type: integer
        CallSign:
          type: string
        Name:
          type: string
        Type:
          type: integer
          description: Ship and cargo type code.
        Dimension:
          type: object
          description: Ship dimension (A/B/C/D offsets to the position reference).
          properties:
            A:
              type: integer
            B:
              type: integer
            C:
              type: integer
            D:
              type: integer
        FixType:
          type: integer
        Eta:
          type: object
          description: Estimated time of arrival components.
          properties:
            Month:
              type: integer
            Day:
              type: integer
            Hour:
              type: integer
            Minute:
              type: integer
        MaximumStaticDraught:
          type: number
        Destination:
          type: string
        Dte:
          type: boolean
        Spare:
          type: boolean