---
title: ToolRouter — Tool Detail
description: Detailed documentation for a ToolRouter tool including skills, parameters, and examples.
url: https://toolrouter.com/tools/vessel-tracker
---
# Vessel Tracker

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.

- **Version:** 0.03
- **Categories:** data
- **Workflow:** search_vessels → search_vessels → vessel_details → monitor_area → safety_alerts → navigation_aids → search_vessels → visualize_area → visualize_area

## Skills (6)

### Search Vessels (`search_vessels`)

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.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `mmsi` | array | No | MMSI numbers to track (9-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity). Maximum 50 vessels. |
| `lat_min` | number | No | Southern boundary latitude (-90 to 90). Required if no MMSI provided. |
| `lon_min` | number | No | Western boundary longitude (-180 to 180). Required if no MMSI provided. |
| `lat_max` | number | No | Northern boundary latitude (-90 to 90). Required if no MMSI provided. |
| `lon_max` | number | No | Eastern boundary longitude (-180 to 180). Required if no MMSI provided. |
| `duration` | number | No | Collection duration in seconds (1-30, default 15). Longer durations find more vessels in busy areas. [default: 15] |

**Returns:** Real-time vessel positions with speed, course, heading, and navigation status

**Examples:**

*Track a specific vessel by MMSI:*

```json
{
  "mmsi": [
    "259000420"
  ]
}
```

*Find all vessels in the English Channel:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 49.5,
  "lon_min": -5.5,
  "lat_max": 51.5,
  "lon_max": 2,
  "duration": 20
}
```

*Track multiple vessels simultaneously:*

```json
{
  "mmsi": [
    "368207620",
    "367719770"
  ]
}
```

### Vessel Details (`vessel_details`)

Get 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.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `mmsi` | array | Yes | MMSI numbers to look up (9-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity). Maximum 50 vessels. |
| `duration` | number | No | Collection duration in seconds (10-120, default 45). Longer durations increase the chance of receiving static data. [default: 45] |

**Returns:** Vessel profiles with name, type, dimensions, destination, ETA, and current position

**Examples:**

*Get details for a single vessel:*

```json
{
  "mmsi": [
    "259000420"
  ]
}
```

*Look up multiple vessels with extended listening:*

```json
{
  "mmsi": [
    "368207620",
    "367719770"
  ],
  "duration": 90
}
```

### Monitor Area (`monitor_area`)

Comprehensive 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.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `lat_min` | number | Yes | Southern boundary latitude (-90 to 90) |
| `lon_min` | number | Yes | Western boundary longitude (-180 to 180) |
| `lat_max` | number | Yes | Northern boundary latitude (-90 to 90) |
| `lon_max` | number | Yes | Eastern boundary longitude (-180 to 180) |
| `duration` | number | No | Collection duration in seconds (10-180, default 60). Longer durations capture more vessels and patterns. [default: 60] |

**Returns:** Area traffic report with vessel positions, movement statistics, and safety alerts

**Examples:**

*Monitor the English Channel:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 49.5,
  "lon_min": -5.5,
  "lat_max": 51.5,
  "lon_max": 2
}
```

*Monitor Singapore Strait for 2 minutes:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 1.1,
  "lon_min": 103.5,
  "lat_max": 1.5,
  "lon_max": 104.2,
  "duration": 120
}
```

### Safety Alerts (`safety_alerts`)

Listen 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.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `lat_min` | number | Yes | Southern boundary latitude (-90 to 90) |
| `lon_min` | number | Yes | Western boundary longitude (-180 to 180) |
| `lat_max` | number | Yes | Northern boundary latitude (-90 to 90) |
| `lon_max` | number | Yes | Eastern boundary longitude (-180 to 180) |
| `duration` | number | No | Collection duration in seconds (10-180, default 60). Safety messages are infrequent — longer durations catch more. [default: 60] |

**Returns:** Maritime safety messages with alert text, source vessel, position, and timestamp

**Examples:**

*Check for safety alerts in the Strait of Hormuz:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 25.5,
  "lon_min": 55.5,
  "lat_max": 27,
  "lon_max": 57
}
```

*Monitor safety broadcasts in the North Sea:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 51,
  "lon_min": -2,
  "lat_max": 56,
  "lon_max": 8,
  "duration": 120
}
```

### Navigation Aids (`navigation_aids`)

Find 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.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `lat_min` | number | Yes | Southern boundary latitude (-90 to 90) |
| `lon_min` | number | Yes | Western boundary longitude (-180 to 180) |
| `lat_max` | number | Yes | Northern boundary latitude (-90 to 90) |
| `lon_max` | number | Yes | Eastern boundary longitude (-180 to 180) |
| `duration` | number | No | Collection duration in seconds (10-120, default 30). AtoN stations broadcast at regular intervals. [default: 30] |

**Returns:** Navigation aids inventory with type, position, virtual/physical status, and off-position alerts

**Examples:**

*Find navigation aids near Port of Rotterdam:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 51.85,
  "lon_min": 3.9,
  "lat_max": 52,
  "lon_max": 4.2
}
```

*Scan for buoys in the Panama Canal approach:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 8.8,
  "lon_min": -79.9,
  "lat_max": 9.4,
  "lon_max": -79.5,
  "duration": 60
}
```

### Visualize Area (`visualize_area`)

Generate 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.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `lat_min` | number | Yes | Southern boundary latitude (-90 to 90) |
| `lon_min` | number | Yes | Western boundary longitude (-180 to 180) |
| `lat_max` | number | Yes | Northern boundary latitude (-90 to 90) |
| `lon_max` | number | Yes | Eastern boundary longitude (-180 to 180) |
| `duration` | number | No | AIS collection duration in seconds (5-30, default 15). Longer durations find more vessels. [default: 15] |
| `style` | string | No | Visual style: "satellite" for photorealistic overhead view with city lights, "radar" for military CRT radar display aesthetic. Default satellite. (satellite, radar) [default: "satellite"] |

**Returns:** AI-generated bird's-eye map image with vessel positions, plus structured vessel data

**Examples:**

*Satellite view of vessels in the Port of Rotterdam:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 51.85,
  "lon_min": 3.9,
  "lat_max": 52,
  "lon_max": 4.2
}
```

*Radar-style view of the English Channel:*

```json
{
  "lat_min": 49.5,
  "lon_min": -5.5,
  "lat_max": 51.5,
  "lon_max": 2,
  "style": "radar"
}
```

## Quick Start

```bash
# Via CLI
TOOLROUTER_API_KEY=tr_live_xxx npx -y toolrouter-mcp call vessel-tracker search_vessels --mmsi 259000420

# Via REST API
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer tr_live_xxx" \
     -d '{"tool":"vessel-tracker","skill":"search_vessels","input":{"mmsi":["259000420"]}}' \
     https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/call
```

## Frequently 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.

---

## Get Started with ToolRouter

**Already connected?** Call any tool with `use_tool({ tool, skill, input })`. Browse tools with `discover` or visit https://toolrouter.com/llms-full.txt

**New to ToolRouter?** Connect with one command (no API key needed — auto-provisions on first use):

```bash
# MCP (Claude Code, Codex CLI)
claude mcp add toolrouter -- npx -y toolrouter-mcp

# MCP (Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, VS Code, Gemini CLI, Claude Desktop)
{"mcpServers":{"toolrouter":{"command":"npx","args":["-y","toolrouter-mcp"]}}}

# Claude Chat / Claude Cowork / Claude Mobile — add as a connector:
# Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector → URL: https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp

# ChatGPT — add as an app:
# Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → enable Developer mode → Create app → MCP Server URL: https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp

# CLI (works instantly, no restart needed)
npx -y toolrouter-mcp tools                    # browse all tools
npx -y toolrouter-mcp search "seo"             # search by keyword
npx -y toolrouter-mcp call seo analyze_page --url https://example.com
```

Free tools work immediately. For paid tools, visit https://toolrouter.com/claim to add credits.

All platforms: https://toolrouter.com/connect | Full catalog: https://toolrouter.com/llms-full.txt | Docs: https://toolrouter.com/docs