Ship Location and Route Monitoring API vs Ship Tracker API: What to Choose?

When it comes to maritime logistics and vessel tracking, developers often face the challenge of choosing the right API to meet their needs. Two popular options are the Ship Location and Route Monitoring API and the Ship Tracker API. Both APIs provide robust solutions for tracking vessels, but they differ in features, performance, and use cases. In this blog post, we will delve into a detailed comparison of these two APIs, exploring their capabilities, performance, and the best scenarios for their use.

Overview of Both APIs

The Ship Location and Route Monitoring API offers comprehensive vessel tracking and management capabilities. It provides real-time data on vessel status and movements, including detailed insights into position, navigational status, current port, and weather conditions. This API is particularly useful for optimizing port operations and enhancing navigational safety.

On the other hand, the Ship Tracker API is designed for developers looking to integrate ship tracking functionalities into their applications. It allows users to retrieve up-to-date information about vessels, including their current position, speed, heading, and destination. This API is ideal for logistics and shipping management systems that require real-time tracking capabilities.

Feature Comparison

Vessel Information

Both APIs provide a feature to retrieve vessel information using the IMO number. The Ship Location and Route Monitoring API allows users to pass the vessel's IMO number and retrieve essential data such as:

• IMO number
• Vessel Name
• Ship type
• Flag
• Gross Tonnage
• Summer Deadweight (t)
• Length Overall (m)
• Beam (m)
• Year of Built

Example Response:

{"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"}}

This feature is crucial for applications that need to display detailed information about a vessel for logistics planning or regulatory compliance.

Get Route

Both APIs also offer the capability to retrieve the current route of a vessel. The Ship Location and Route Monitoring API provides data such as:

• Departure Port
• Departure ATD
• Callsign
• Flag
• Length / Beam
• IMO / MMSI
• Navigation Status
• Current Draught
• Course / Speed
• Arrival Port
• Arrival ETA

Example Response:

{"status":200,"success":true,"message":"IMO Code 9251183 is valid","data":{"departure_port":"Kingston Anch., Jamaica","departure_atd":"ATD: Nov 12, 02:21 UTC (10 days ago)","callsign":"V7A4876","flag":"Marshall Islands","length_beam":"119 / 19 m","imo_mmsi":"9251183 / 538009548","navigation_status":"-","current_draught":"5.1 m","course_speed":" ","arrival_port":"FOR ORDER","arrival_atd":"ETA: Nov 20, 14:00","latest_port_calls":[{"port_name":"Kingston Anch., Jamaica","arrival_utc":"2024-11-11T16:50:00.000000Z","departure_utc":"2024-11-12T02:21:00.000000Z","time_in_port":"9 hours, 31 minutes"}]}}

This feature is essential for tracking the progress of vessels and ensuring timely arrivals at ports.

Current Position

Retrieving the current position of a vessel is another critical feature offered by both APIs. The Ship Location and Route Monitoring API provides:

• Area
• Current Port
• Latitude
• Longitude
• Navigational Status
• Speed
• Course
• AIS Source

Example Response:

{"status":200,"success":true,"message":"IMO Code 9270622 is valid","data":{"position_received":"2023-10-13 10:36","vessel_local_time":"-","area":"Gulf of Guinea","current_port":"ONNE","latitude_longitude":"--- / ---","navigational_status":"Under way using engine","speed_course":"7.9 Knots","ais_source":"-"}}

This feature is vital for real-time tracking and monitoring of vessel movements, allowing for immediate response to any issues that may arise.

Get Position by MMSI

Both APIs allow users to retrieve the current position of a vessel based on its MMSI. The Ship Location and Route Monitoring API provides data such as:

• Destination
• Reported ETA
• Speed
• Heading
• Draught
• Position Received
• Latitude / Longitude
• Navigational status

Example Response:

{"status":200,"success":true,"message":"MMSI Code 577472000 is valid","data":{"destination":"Onne, Nigeria","reported_eta":"ATA: Nov 11, 14:42 UTC","speed":"7.9 Knots","heading":null,"draught":"5.5 m","position_received":"2023-10-13 10:36","latitude_longitude":"--- / ---","navigational_status":"Moored"}}

This feature is particularly useful for tracking specific vessels in a fleet, allowing for tailored monitoring and management.

Get Latest Ports by MMSI Code

Both APIs provide the ability to retrieve information about the latest ports a vessel has visited using its MMSI code. The Ship Location and Route Monitoring API allows users to access data such as:

• Position Received
• Area
• Current Port
• Coordinates
• Navigational status
• Last port calls
• Arrival
• Departure
• Time in port

Example Response:

{"status":200,"success":true,"message":"MMSI Code 205566190 is valid","data":{"position_received":"14 m ago","vessel_local_time":"-","area":"North Sea","current_port":"PUURS ZEEKANAAL BRUS","latitude_longitude":"51.11120° / 4.29875°","navigational_status":"Moored","speed_course":"","ais_source":"-","last_port_calls":[{"port":"ANTWERP","arrival":"2024-08-04 10:23","departure":"2024-08-04 14:09","time_in_port":"3 h"}]}}

This feature is essential for analyzing a vessel's travel history and optimizing future routes based on past performance.

Performance and Scalability Analysis

Both APIs are designed to handle high volumes of requests, making them suitable for applications that require real-time data. The Ship Location and Route Monitoring API excels in providing detailed insights into vessel movements and port operations, making it ideal for large-scale logistics operations. Its ability to source data from both terrestrial and satellite AIS signals enhances its reliability and coverage.

The Ship Tracker API, while also robust, focuses more on providing real-time tracking capabilities for individual vessels. It is particularly effective for applications that require quick access to vessel data without the need for extensive historical insights. This API is well-suited for fleet management systems that prioritize speed and efficiency in tracking.

Pros and Cons of Each API

Ship Location and Route Monitoring API

Pros:

• Comprehensive data on vessel movements and port operations.
• Real-time tracking with detailed insights into navigational status.
• Ability to optimize logistics and enhance safety through detailed analytics.

Cons:

• May be more complex to implement due to the extensive data provided.
• Potentially higher latency due to the volume of data processed.

Ship Tracker API

Pros:

• Fast and efficient access to real-time vessel data.
• Simpler implementation for applications focused on tracking.
• Ideal for logistics and shipping management systems requiring quick updates.

Cons:

• Less comprehensive data compared to the Ship Location and Route Monitoring API.
• May not provide sufficient historical data for in-depth analysis.

Final Recommendation

Choosing between the Ship Location and Route Monitoring API and the Ship Tracker API ultimately depends on the specific needs of your application. If your focus is on comprehensive vessel tracking with detailed insights into port operations and historical data, the Ship Location and Route Monitoring API is the better choice. It is particularly suited for large-scale logistics operations where optimizing routes and enhancing safety are paramount.

Conversely, if your application requires quick access to real-time vessel data for tracking purposes, the Ship Tracker API is the ideal solution. It is designed for efficiency and speed, making it perfect for fleet management systems that prioritize immediate updates over extensive analytics.

In conclusion, both APIs offer valuable features for vessel tracking and monitoring. By understanding their strengths and weaknesses, developers can make informed decisions that align with their project requirements.

Need help implementing the Ship Location and Route Monitoring API? View the integration guide for step-by-step instructions.

Want to use the Ship Tracker API in production? Visit the developer docs for complete API reference.