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
    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
    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-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/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: info@apievangelist.com
    X: apievangelist
    url: https://apievangelist.com
specificationVersion: '0.16'