How do I find my VesselAPI Key?

Log in to your [**VesselAPI dashboard**](https://vesselapi.com/account), and you will find your API Key under the settings page. Copy and paste it below.

Does it support real-time AIS data?

Yes. The `get_vessel_position` tool provides the latest AIS position received for the specified vessel IMO number.

Can the agent show port schedules?

Yes. Use the `get_vessel_schedules` tool to retrieve upcoming port calls and arrival/departure metadata for any vessel.

VesselAPI MCP Server for VS Code Copilot 6 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: VesselAPI
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers

Built by Vinkius GDPR 6 Tools IDE

GitHub Copilot in VS Code is the most widely adopted AI coding assistant, embedded directly into the world's most popular code editor. With MCP support in Agent mode, Copilot can access external data and APIs to generate context-aware code grounded in real-time information.

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Classic Setup·json

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

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About VesselAPI MCP Server

Empower your AI agent to orchestrate your entire maritime research and vessel auditing workflow with VesselAPI, the comprehensive source for global shipping data. By connecting VesselAPI to your agent, you transform complex logistics searches into a natural conversation. Your agent can instantly track vessels by IMO number, audit upcoming port schedules, and retrieve real-time AIS positions without you ever touching a maritime dashboard. Whether you are conducting supply chain research or monitoring global trade flow, your agent acts as a real-time maritime consultant, ensuring your data is always precise and up-to-the-minute.

GitHub Copilot Agent mode brings VesselAPI data directly into your VS Code workflow. With a project-scoped config, the entire team shares access to 6 tools. Copilot queries live data, generates typed code, and writes tests from actual API responses, all without leaving the editor.

What you can do

Vessel Auditing — Retrieve high-resolution details for any vessel by IMO number, including flag, type, and build metadata.
Schedule Oversight — Audit upcoming port calls and historical schedules to maintain a clear view of maritime logistics.
Position Intelligence — Query real-time AIS positions to understand the current geographic distribution of vessels instantly.
Port Discovery — List global maritime ports and retrieve localized metadata to assist in geographic planning.
Logistics Monitoring — Check API status and monitor your data usage to maintain strict control over your research volume.

The VesselAPI MCP Server exposes 6 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to VS Code Copilot in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect VesselAPI to VS Code Copilot via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the VesselAPI MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.

Create MCP config

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above

Enable Agent mode

Open GitHub Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown

Start using VesselAPI

Ask Copilot: "Using VesselAPI, help me...". 6 tools available

Why Use VS Code Copilot with the VesselAPI MCP Server

GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio Code provides unique advantages when paired with VesselAPI through the Model Context Protocol.

VS Code is used by over 70% of developers. adding MCP tools to Copilot means your team can leverage external data without leaving their primary editor

Project-scoped MCP configs (`.vscode/mcp.json`) let you commit server configurations to your repository, ensuring the entire team shares the same tool access

Copilot's Agent mode integrates MCP tools seamlessly with file editing, terminal commands, and workspace search in a single agentic loop

GitHub's enterprise compliance and audit features extend to MCP tool usage, providing visibility into how AI interacts with external services

VesselAPI + VS Code Copilot Use Cases

Practical scenarios where VS Code Copilot combined with the VesselAPI MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Live API integration: Copilot can query an MCP server, inspect the response schema, and generate typed API client code in the same step

DevSecOps workflows: security teams can give developers access to domain intelligence tools directly in their editor for real-time vulnerability assessment during code review

Data pipeline development: Copilot fetches sample data via MCP and generates transformation scripts, validators, and test fixtures from actual API responses

Documentation generation: Copilot queries available tools and auto-generates README sections, API reference docs, and usage examples

VesselAPI MCP Tools for VS Code Copilot (6)

These 6 tools become available when you connect VesselAPI to VS Code Copilot via MCP:

check_api_status

Check if the VesselAPI is operational

get_vessel_details

Get comprehensive details for a vessel by IMO number

get_vessel_position

Get the latest AIS position for a vessel

get_vessel_schedules

Get upcoming port calls and schedules for a vessel

list_maritime_ports

List global maritime ports supported by VesselAPI

search_vessels

Search for vessels by name

Example Prompts for VesselAPI in VS Code Copilot

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your VS Code Copilot agent to start working with VesselAPI immediately.

"Get details for vessel with IMO 9411159 using VesselAPI."

"Where is vessel 'MSC OSCAR' located right now?"

"Show upcoming schedules for IMO 9243394."

Troubleshooting VesselAPI MCP Server with VS Code Copilot

Common issues when connecting VesselAPI to VS Code Copilot through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

MCP tools not available

Ensure you are in Agent mode in Copilot Chat. MCP tools only appear in Agent mode.

VesselAPI + VS Code Copilot FAQ

Common questions about integrating VesselAPI MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.

Which VS Code version supports MCP?

MCP support requires VS Code 1.99 or later with the GitHub Copilot extension. Ensure both are updated to the latest version. Older versions of Copilot may not expose the Agent mode toggle.

How do I switch to Agent mode?

Open the Copilot Chat panel and look for two mode options: "Ask" and "Agent". Click "Agent" to enable autonomous tool calling. In Ask mode, Copilot provides conversational answers but cannot invoke MCP tools.

Can I restrict which MCP tools Copilot can access?

Yes. VS Code shows a tool consent dialog before any MCP tool is invoked for the first time. You can also configure tool access policies at the organization level through GitHub Copilot settings.

Does MCP work in VS Code Remote or Codespaces?

Yes. MCP servers configured via .vscode/mcp.json work in Remote SSH, WSL, and GitHub Codespaces environments. The MCP connection is established from the remote host, so ensure the server URL is accessible from that environment.