Are you a freelancer looking for an API that provides reliable information about vessel traffic programmatically? So, you must read this post!
A vessel tracker is a system that uses GPS or other satellite-based technology to track the location of a ship or other vessel. The tracker sends this data to a server, which then sends it to a website, app or API where you can view it.
In this sense, after testing many existing APIs on the market and dedicating a lot of time to it, we came to the conclusion that this is the most complete, stable and robust API on the market: Vessel Traffic Information API.
Vessel Traffic Information API
Vessel Traffic Information API is a very useful tool for tracking vessels and obtaining information about their location in real-time.
This API provides live information about vessels around the globe, including a list of all globally, live on-board vessels or vessels within a specific range of area. This can be helpful for tracking shipments and obtaining additional information about the vessel in question.
The API receives parameters such as ship number, latitude, and longitude, and returns a list of all vessels located in that area. This can be useful for companies that want to track vessel routes and enrich their databases with information related to any ship.
Some of the information that can be obtained through this API includes the vessel’s destination port, departure port, information about the ship, its max draught, length, where it was built, flag, triangular position, estimated time of arrival at its arrival port, and more.
Usage Cases
Vessels are essential for the global economy, and this API makes it possible to track them with ease. Vessels are used for many different purposes, such as transporting goods, transporting people, tracking a loved one’s voyage to monitoring environmental impact. In this way, Vessel Traffic Information API retrieves information from all of them.
Vessel Tracker API can also be used by government agencies or private companies for security purposes, such as tracking potential threats or monitoring suspicious activity.
In addition, this API can be used by shipping companies to track the location of their vessels and cargo. This information can be used to monitor the performance of vessels and crew members as well as to track shipments. Also, it can be used by ports and terminals to monitor the arrival and departure of vessels at their facilities.
In summary, Vessel Traffic Information API is a powerful tool for tracking vessels and obtaining information about them. Whether you want to check where your ship is located at any moment or enrich your databases with information related to any ship, this API is the one you need.
How to start using the Vessel Traffic Information API?
1. Go to the Zyla API Hub. It is an API marketplace. Look for the Vessel Traffic Information API and subscribe to it (this API offers a 7-day trial).
2. Then, you will get your personal API key to be able to use the tool.
3. Choose the endpoint you want to use. It can be:
- GET VESSEL DATA BY SHIP ID.
- GET VESSELS BY GEO LOCATION.
- GET VESSEL DATA BY SHIP NAME.
4. Complete the required data and make the API call. This API will give you the information in just seconds!
To continue, here is an API’s response example on how to get vessel data by ship ID:
cURL:
curl –location –request GET ‘https://zylalabs.com/api/78/vessel+traffic+information+api/140/get+vessel+data+by+ship+id&shipid=Required’ –header ‘Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_KEY’
“status”: “ok”,
“ship_info”: {
“country_code”: “CA”,
“reported_draught”: “4m”,
“port_data_x”: “-55.04837”,
“port_data_y”: “49.24372”,
“last_pos”: 1674621145,
“elapsed”: 1674621145,
“timezone_offset”: -210,
“vsl_length”: 98,
“vsl_code”: “”,
“type_summary”: “Passenger”,
“ship_id”: “353064”,
“ship_type”: “6”,
“mmsi”: “316040593”,
“imo”: “9481805”,
“type_name”: “Ro-Ro/Passenger Ship”,
“country”: “Canada”,
“shipname”: “KAMUTIK W”,
“course”: 0,
“dwt”: “900”,
“speed”: “0.00”,
“ship_lat”: “49.24826”,
“ship_lon”: “-55.04939”,
“draught”: “40”,
“last_port_id”: “24974”,
“last_port_name”: “HAPPY VALLEY”,
“last_port_country”: “CA”,
“last_port_unlocode”: “CAHVY”,
“next_port_id”: “21638”,
“next_port_name”: “LEWISPORTE”,
“next_port_country”: “CA”,
“next_port_unlocode”: “CALWP”,
“station_operator”: “”,
“station_name”: “Lewisporte, NL”,
“status_name”: “Stopped”,
“max_draught”: “4m”,
“dest_rep”: “LEWISPORTE”,
“triangle_pos”: 100,
“departure_port_info_tooltip”: “HAPPY VALLEY [CA]”,
“departure_port_info_country_code”: “CA”,
“departure_port_info_port_code”: “HVY”,
“departure_port_info_id”: “24974”,
“departure_port_info_portTime”: 1670775720,
“departure_port_info_offset”: “-240”,
“last_port_timestamp”: 1670775720,
“arrival_port_info_tooltip”: “LEWISPORTE [CA]”,
“arrival_port_info_country_code”: “CA”,
“arrival_port_info_port_code”: “LWP”,
“arrival_time_datetime”: 1670930760,
“arrival_time_offset”: “-210”,
“eta_reported”: 1670947200
}
}
But hold on! We’re still not done. This API offers a 7-day trial available now. Yet, if you want to obtain more API calls, there are various plans that will undoubtedly satisfy your requirements. Thankfully, Zyla API Hub takes all of the popular debit and credit cards. This payment system is powered by Stripe, one of the most reputable payment processors in the world, and uses the most recent security technology. You can contact customer service at [email protected] if you experience any issues making the card payment.
Also published on Medium.