How to Use the VesselAPI MCP in Claude Code

Q: How do I check if VesselAPI is working in a CI/CD pipeline using Claude Code?

Start your script with checkapistatus. If the exit code isn't zero, you know immediately that the entire MCP Server connection failed before any major task runs.

Q: Can I use VesselAPI for mass port listings with Claude Code?

Yes. You can run listmaritimeports and pipe the output into a file that subsequent scripts read from, making it ideal for bulk data processing.

Q: If I need to search vessels using VesselAPI in Claude Code, how do I proceed?

You run searchvessels and capture the output. This list of names can then be fed into another tool for detailed fetching, making a complete automated audit.

Model Context Protocol for Claude Code: Run vessel data audits and status checks in headless CI/CD pipelines.

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Create your Vinkius account to connect VesselAPI to Claude Code and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup VesselAPI with Claude Code

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Scripting Vessel Position Checks

Need to verify the current location of a fleet? You can write a simple script that calls `get_vessel_position` and pipes the resulting coordinates into other tools. This is ideal for automated nightly reports. It's fast, headless execution—perfect for running in a Docker container without needing a GUI.

Batch Scheduling Audits

For compliance checks, you might need to audit the schedules of twenty vessels. You can script this using `get_vessel_schedules` and loop through multiple IMO numbers in your shell command. This runs entirely on the CLI, making it perfect for cron jobs that handle background data processing.

System Health Monitoring

When deploying a new service, you must confirm connectivity. Run `check_api_status` as your first step in any pipeline. This gives you an immediate exit code if the VesselAPI connection fails. This level of reliability is what makes this MCP Server great for production environments.

Setup guide

Set up VesselAPI MCP in Claude Code

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Run the add command

Open your terminal and run the command shown on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. Use --scope user to make it available across all projects.
2

Verify the connection

Start a Claude Code session and type /mcp to list connected servers. You should see vesselapi-mcp with a green status indicator.
3

Start using tools

Ask Claude Code something like "Check my latest VesselAPI transactions." It will automatically discover and invoke the available VesselAPI tools.

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http vesselapi-mcp https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

Get your connection token →

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open the config file

Create or edit .mcp.json in your project root for project-level scope, or ~/.claude.json for user-level scope.
2

Add the VesselAPI MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Code

Start a new Claude Code session. Type /mcp to confirm the server is connected. The tools will be automatically available in your conversation.

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vesselapi-mcp": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by VesselAPI. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about VesselAPI MCP in Claude Code

Start your script with `check_api_status`. If the exit code isn't zero, you know immediately that the entire MCP Server connection failed before any major task runs.

The server handles vessel identity and location data (IMO numbers, names, AIS positions). Always validate which specific data points your script needs to minimize risk.

Yes. You can run `list_maritime_ports` and pipe the output into a file that subsequent scripts read from, making it ideal for bulk data processing.

You run `search_vessels` and capture the output. This list of names can then be fed into another tool for detailed fetching, making a complete automated audit.

The MCP Server supports this. You can write a single script that calls `get_vessel_details` iteratively using different IMO numbers to build a comprehensive dataset for your audit.

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