Why Is A Maritime Data API One Of The Best Technological Advances?

The maritime industry has come a long way since the days of the Age of Sail, of the days of wooden ships and ironmen. Now, we are in the Age of technology, where every development can be the difference between a thriving business and a failing one. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of maritime data APIs and their enormous potential.

Imagine being able to track vessels in real time as they sail across the vast oceans, knowing their exact location, speed, and destination. Thanks to maritime data APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), this is now possible and this in turn offers a plethora of benefits to businesses and individuals alike. Whether you are a shipping company, a maritime logistics provider, a maritime enthusiast, or someone who simply wants to stay updated on the movements of ships, integrating a maritime data API into your app or website can provide you with a seamless and efficient way to monitor vessel activities. In this article, we recommend Zyla’s Vessel Traffic Information API, which is a very solid and versatile option.

What Are The Benefits Of a Maritime Data API?

APIs are at the forefront of innovation, which means there’s plenty of untapped potential in several fields, such as:

1. Real-time vessel tracking: One of the most significant benefits of integrating a vessel tracking API is the ability to access real-time information about the location, speed, heading, and other relevant data of vessels. This allows you to monitor ships’ movements in real-time, providing valuable insights into their routes, estimated arrival times, and any potential delays. Real-time vessel tracking can help you make informed decisions, optimize operations, and ensure efficient use of resources.
2. Enhanced operational efficiency: Vessel tracking APIs can greatly improve operational efficiency for businesses involved in maritime operations. By integrating a vessel tracking API into your app or website, you can streamline various aspects of your operations, such as fleet management, logistics, and supply chain. For example, you can track multiple vessels simultaneously, monitor their routes, and optimize routes to minimize fuel consumption and reduce operational costs. You can also track vessel performance and maintenance data, enabling proactive maintenance planning to minimize downtime and improve overall fleet performance.
3. Competitive advantage: In today’s fast-paced business environment, staying ahead of the competition is crucial. Integrating a vessel tracking API into your app or website can give you a competitive advantage by offering unique and value-added services to your customers. For example, you can provide real-time vessel tracking capabilities that your competitors may not have, giving you an edge in attracting and retaining customers.

How Does This API Work?

Zyla’s Vessel Traffic Information API is very easy to integrate into either an app or a website, and it’s flexible in its function. It requires input parameters like a ship’s number, or any particular set of coordinates, (latitude and longitude) in which case you will get a list of all the vessels that are located in that area. After a quick search, you’ll receive information like the destination port, departure port, and general information about the ship, like its max draught, its longitude, the year it was launched, and more.  The output looks like this, in this case, the input was a ship’s IMO code:

{
  "status": 200,
  "success": true,
  "message": "IMO Code 9270622 is valid",
  "data": {
    "imo_number": "9270622",
    "vessel_name": "AQUAMAN",
    "ship_type": "Offshore Tug/Supply Ship",
    "flag": "Vanuatu",
    "gross_tonnage": "2332",
    "summer_deadweight_t": "2162",
    "length_overall_m": "69",
    "beam_m": "16",
    "year_of_built": "2003"
  }
}

You can get a hold of this versatile API and also try it out for free with the following steps:

1- Go to Vessel Traffic Information API and simply click on the button “Try Free For 7-Days” to start using the API.
2- Employ the different API endpoints depending on what you are looking for.
3- Once you meet your needed endpoint, make the API call by pressing the button “run” and see the results on your screen.