Ship Tracking Information API vs Ship Tracker API: What to Choose?

Ship Tracking Information API vs Ship Tracker API: What to Choose?

Ship Tracking Information API and the Ship Tracker API. This blog post will delve into a detailed comparison of these two APIs, exploring their features, use cases, performance, and scalability, ultimately guiding developers on which API to choose based on specific needs.

Overview of Both APIs

Ship Tracking Information API offers detailed, real-time information about the location and trajectory of vessels using their IMO numbers. It provides a sophisticated vessel tracking and management system for major seaports, delivering insights into navigational status, current and arrival ports, and port-specific weather conditions. This API is particularly useful for optimizing port operations and enhancing navigational safety.

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, providing essential data for real-time monitoring and operational efficiency.

Feature Comparison

Vessel Information

Ship Tracking Information API allows users to pass the vessel's IMO number and retrieve comprehensive details such as:

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

{"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"}}

Ship Tracker API offers the same capability with its "Get Ship Info" feature, providing identical data points. This consistency allows developers to switch between APIs with minimal adjustments.

Get Route

Ship Tracking Information API includes a "Get Route" feature that retrieves the current route of a vessel. Users can obtain:

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

{"status":200,"success":true,"message":"IMO Code 9251183 is valid","data":{"departure_port":"Saint George, Bermuda","departure_atd":"ATD: May 13, 21:21 UTC (44 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 ORDERS","arrival_atd":"ETA: Jun 30, 00:00","latest_port_calls":[{"port_name":"Saint George, Bermuda","arrival_utc":"2024-05-13T10:41:00.000000Z","departure_utc":"2024-05-13T21:21:00.000000Z","time_in_port":"10 hours, 40 minutes"},{"port_name":"locked, ","arrival_utc":"2024-05-03T14:33:00.000000Z","departure_utc":"2024-05-04T14:16:00.000000Z","time_in_port":"23 hours, 43 minutes"}]}}

Ship Tracker API also provides a "Get Ship Route" feature with the same data points, ensuring that developers can access route information consistently across both APIs.

Current Position

Ship Tracking Information API offers a "Current Position" feature that provides:

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

{"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":"ABIDJAN","latitude_longitude":"6.39686° / 3.40037°","navigational_status":"Under way using engine","speed_course":"7.9 Knots","ais_source":"-"}}

Ship Tracker API mirrors this functionality with its "Get Current Position" feature, providing the same set of data, which allows for seamless integration into existing systems.

Get Position by MMSI

Ship Tracking Information API provides:

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

{"status":200,"success":true,"message":"MMSI Code 577472000 is valid","data":{"destination":"FORCADOS FIELD","reported_eta":"ETA: Jun 1, 03:00","speed":"7.9 Knots","heading":null,"draught":"5.2 m","position_received":"2023-10-13 10:36","latitude_longitude":"6.39686° / 3.40037°","navigational_status":"-"}}

Ship Tracker API also includes a "Get Current Position By MMSI" feature, providing the same data points, ensuring consistency in tracking capabilities.

Get Latest Ports by MMSI Code

Ship Tracking Information API provides:

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

{"status":200,"success":true,"message":"MMSI Code 205566190 is valid","data":{"position_received":"3 m ago","vessel_local_time":"-","area":"North Sea","current_port":"PUURS ZEEKANAAL BRUS","latitude_longitude":"51.11120° / 4.29874°","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"},{"port":"THOLEN","arrival":"2024-08-03 11:21","departure":"2024-08-04 08:48","time_in_port":"21 h"}]}}

Ship Tracker API also includes a "Get Latest Ports by MMSI Code" feature, providing the same data points, which allows for easy integration into applications that require historical tracking data.

Performance and Scalability Analysis

Ship Tracking Information API utilizes AIS data from both terrestrial and satellite sources, ensuring global coverage and accuracy. This dual-source approach enhances the reliability of the data provided, making it a robust choice for applications requiring real-time tracking.

Ship Tracker API also sources its data from terrestrial and satellite AIS signals, ensuring that developers receive accurate and timely information. Both APIs are built to scale, allowing developers to integrate them into applications without worrying about performance bottlenecks.

Pros and Cons of Each API

Ship Tracking Information API

Pros:

• Comprehensive vessel information with detailed insights.
• Real-time tracking capabilities with global coverage.
• Useful for optimizing port operations and logistics.

Cons:

• May have a steeper learning curve for new developers.
• Complexity in integrating with existing systems.

Ship Tracker API

Pros:

• User-friendly and easy to integrate into applications.
• Provides essential data for logistics and shipping management.
• Consistent data structure across features.

Cons:

• Less comprehensive than the Ship Tracking Information API.
• May not provide as much detail for advanced maritime analytics.

Final Recommendation

Ship Tracking Information 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 for optimizing port operations, the Ship Tracking Information API is the better choice. However, if you require a straightforward solution for real-time ship tracking and monitoring, the Ship Tracker API is more suitable.

Ship Tracking Information API in production? Visit the developer docs for complete API reference.

Ship Tracker API? Check out the API documentation to get started.