Vessel Tracker
Live ship positions and AIS data
Track ships and monitor maritime traffic worldwide using live AIS data. Look up vessel positions, speeds, headings, ship specs, navigation aids, and safety broadcasts for any area or vessel.
Find vessels by MMSI or bounding box. Returns latest position, speed, course, heading, and navigation status. Collects live AIS position reports for ~15 seconds, deduplicated by vessel.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOOLROUTER_API_KEY" \
-d '{
"tool": "vessel-tracker",
"skill": "search_vessels",
"input": {
"mmsi": [
"259000420"
]
}
}' \
https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/callGet vessel specs: name, call sign, IMO, ship type, dimensions, destination, ETA, draught. Listens for static broadcasts (~6 min intervals) so takes longer than position lookups. Also captures position data.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOOLROUTER_API_KEY" \
-d '{
"tool": "vessel-tracker",
"skill": "vessel_details",
"input": {
"mmsi": [
"259000420"
]
}
}' \
https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/callComprehensive traffic report for a geographic area. Collects all AIS message types and aggregates into a summary with vessel counts, moving vs stationary breakdown, vessel types, and safety alerts.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOOLROUTER_API_KEY" \
-d '{
"tool": "vessel-tracker",
"skill": "monitor_area",
"input": {
"lat_min": 49.5,
"lon_min": -5.5,
"lat_max": 51.5,
"lon_max": 2
}
}' \
https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/callListen for safety broadcasts in a geographic area: collision warnings, weather advisories, distress signals, and navigational warnings. Captures broadcast and addressed messages. Useful for risk assessment.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOOLROUTER_API_KEY" \
-d '{
"tool": "vessel-tracker",
"skill": "safety_alerts",
"input": {
"lat_min": 25.5,
"lon_min": 55.5,
"lat_max": 27,
"lon_max": 57
}
}' \
https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/callFind buoys, beacons, lighthouses, and other navigation aids (AtoN) in a geographic area. Returns type, position, dimensions, virtual/physical status. Flags off-position aids for safe navigation.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOOLROUTER_API_KEY" \
-d '{
"tool": "vessel-tracker",
"skill": "navigation_aids",
"input": {
"lat_min": 51.85,
"lon_min": 3.9,
"lat_max": 52,
"lon_max": 4.2
}
}' \
https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/callGenerate a bird's-eye satellite or radar-style image of live vessel positions in a geographic area. Collects AIS data, categorizes by status, then produces an AI visualization with vessel markers.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOOLROUTER_API_KEY" \
-d '{
"tool": "vessel-tracker",
"skill": "visualize_area",
"input": {
"lat_min": 51.85,
"lon_min": 3.9,
"lat_max": 52,
"lon_max": 4.2
}
}' \
https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/callQuick Start
claude mcp add --transport stdio \
--env TOOLROUTER_API_KEY=YOUR_API_KEY \
toolrouter -- npx -y toolrouter-mcpcurl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOOLROUTER_API_KEY" \
-d '{"tool":"vessel-tracker","skill":"search_vessels","input":{}}' \
https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/callFrequently Asked Questions
Can I track a specific ship or watch an area?
`search_vessels` finds a vessel by MMSI or bounding box, and `monitor_area` returns a fuller traffic report for a region.
Why does vessel details take longer?
`vessel_details` listens for static broadcasts, so it can take longer than a live position lookup, but it adds ship specs like IMO, dimensions, destination, and ETA.
Can I see safety warnings or navigational hazards?
Yes. `safety_alerts` surfaces collision, weather, distress, and navigational broadcasts, and `navigation_aids` finds buoys, beacons, and lighthouses.
Can I get a map-style view of traffic?
`visualize_area` generates a bird's-eye view with AIS vessel markers for the area you choose.