Vesselapi MCP

What vessel-api/vesselapi-mcp MCP server does

The vessel-api/vesselapi-mcp MCP server connects an MCP-compatible AI client to maritime data from VesselAPI. Its tools cover vessel identification, current positions, estimated arrivals, port activity, emissions, marine casualties, and location-based searches.

Vessel searches can use identifiers and attributes such as vessel name, IMO number, MMSI, flag, type, callsign, or build year. After finding a vessel, an agent can request detailed records, a current position, an ETA, emissions information, casualty records, or several positions in one request. Port tools support searches and lookup by UN/LOCODE, inbound-vessel queries, arrivals and departures, and event searches by port or vessel.

How it works

The server runs as a local Node.js process launched with npx and communicates with the client through MCP. Each exposed tool maps to a maritime query against VesselAPI. Geographic tools can find vessels inside a bounding box or within a radius around a point, with an optional time range.

List-style endpoints accept limit and nextToken parameters. When more results are available, the response supplies a token that can be sent with the next request. This lets a client page through results explicitly and manage API quota usage.

Setup and configuration

To use the vessel-api/vesselapi-mcp MCP server, create an account at the VesselAPI dashboard and generate an API token. Store that token in the VESSELAPI_API_KEY environment variable in the MCP client configuration.

A local configuration uses the following command and environment variable:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vesselapi": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "vesselapi-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "VESSELAPI_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

A hosted deployment is also listed on Fronteir AI, but the provided setup instructions describe the local npx process.

Tools and capabilities

The tool set includes:

• Vessel search, detail lookup, current position, ETA, emissions, casualties, and batch positions.
• Port search, port details, inbound vessels, arrivals and departures, and the latest event for a vessel.
• Global port-event listing with filters for time, country, port, vessel, or event type.
• Global emissions listing with an optional year filter.
• Vessel discovery by bounding box or radius, with optional time ranges.

Emissions and casualty data are attributed to the European Maritime Safety Agency sources identified in the README, including THETIS-MRV and EMCIP. The source data may be transformed and combined, and the attribution notes state that EMSA does not endorse the service.

Limitations and notes

Results and available fields therefore depend on the underlying VesselAPI service.