# Datalastic Maritime MCP MCP

> Datalastic Maritime gives your AI agent instant access to global ship movements and port records. You can search for vessels by name, track their real-time positions, or find precise details on any major maritime port globally. It’s intelligence for logistics planners and compliance officers who need to know where a vessel is right now.

## Overview
- **Category:** data-analytics
- **Price:** Free
- **Tags:** maritime-data, ais-tracking, vessel-intelligence, port-information, real-time-logistics

## Description

When you connect this MCP, your AI agent gains the function of a global shipping analyst. You stop relying on fragmented reports and start talking directly to live data feeds. Your agent can pinpoint ships using name searches or MMSI numbers, giving you everything from technical specs to real-time status updates. Need to know about ports? Just tell it the country, and it returns official UN/LOCODEs and exact coordinates. This kind of deep, consolidated maritime intelligence is what makes Vinkius such a powerful catalog; instead of jumping between ten different industry databases, you query everything from one place. Whether auditing supply chains or managing global cargo routes, your agent handles the data heavy lifting, letting you focus on strategy.

## Tools

### get_port_details
Retrieves precise coordinates and technical details for a specific maritime port location.

### get_vessel_history
Gets historical AIS tracking data, showing where a vessel has been over time.

### get_vessel_pro_specs
Pulls advanced technical specifications and dimensions for any commercial ship.

### get_vessel_status
Checks the real-time location, status, and estimated arrival time for a single vessel.

### find_vessels_in_radius
Finds every vessel currently located within a specified circular radius from a point.

### search_ports_by_name
Searches for and lists maritime ports using their common text name.

### search_ports_by_country
Lists all major maritime port locations within a country you specify.

### search_maritime_vessels
Searches for vessels by providing their commercial name to get initial identification details.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
Search for a vessel named 'Ever Given'.
```

**Response:** 
```
Searching the Datalastic database... I've identified the 'Ever Given' cargo vessel with MMSI '353136000'. I can now retrieve its current position and destination if you'd like.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
What is the current status and ETA for vessel MMSI '235114578'?
```

**Response:** 
```
Retrieving vessel details... The ship is currently 'Underway using Engine' and is heading to the Port of Southampton. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) is October 15th at 14:30 UTC.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
List all major ports in 'Brazil'.
```

**Response:** 
```
Retrieving port data for Brazil (BR)... I've found a list of terminals including Santos (BRSSZ), Paranaguá (BRPNG), and Itajaí (BRITJ). I can provide the exact coordinates or technical details for any of these ports.
```

## Capabilities

### Identify vessels in an area
Find every active vessel located within a specified circular radius.

### Get port coordinates and details
Retrieve the exact geolocations, UN/LOCODEs, and technical data for any known maritime port.

### Track vessel location over time
Access a ship's historical AIS tracking paths and past locations.

### Pull advanced vessel specs
Get detailed technical dimensions, tonnage, and other specifications for a specific vessel.

### Check real-time ship status
Obtain the current location, operational status, and estimated time of arrival (ETA) for any tracked ship.

### Search ships by name
Look up vessels using a simple search query like the vessel's commercial name.

### Locate ports by country
List all major maritime port locations within a specific nation.

### Find ports by text name
Search for and list maritime ports using their common English or local names.

## Use Cases

### Confirming cargo status before a client meeting
A logistics manager needs to confirm if the Ever Given is still on schedule. Instead of logging into the carrier's portal, they ask their agent: 'What is the current status and ETA for vessel MMSI 353136000?' The agent uses get_vessel_status and immediately provides a clear answer.

### Planning a route through unfamiliar territory
A compliance officer needs to know the exact UN/LOCODE for all major ports in Colombia. They ask their agent to search_ports_by_country for 'Colombia,' getting an immediate list of official terminals and coordinates.

### Investigating a potential incident
A maritime researcher needs to know if any tanker was within 10 miles of the disputed area. They instruct their agent to run find_vessels_in_radius, instantly identifying all cargo tankers in that specific zone.

### Auditing a competitor's vessel type
A trade analyst needs to know the tonnage and size of a ship only known by its name. They use search_maritime_vessels first, then call get_vessel_pro_specs using the retrieved MMSI number for full technical dimensions.

## Benefits

- Stop manually compiling vessel data. Use get_vessel_status to instantly see a ship's current position and ETA without visiting three different tracking websites.
- Never guess a terminal code again. Search for ports by country or search_ports_by_name quickly gives you official UN/LOCODEs needed for customs filings.
- Get deep technical details fast. Running get_vessel_pro_specs provides tonnage and dimensions, which is critical for both load planning and compliance audits.
- Analyze movement patterns easily. Use get_vessel_history to map out a vessel's past route, helping you spot delays or unusual detours in the supply chain.
- Scope down your search instantly. If you only care about activity near Rotterdam, use find_vessels_in_radius instead of searching every ship globally.

## How It Works

The bottom line is that your AI agent handles the complex, multi-step query process without you having to think through the sequence of API calls yourself.

1. Subscribe to the Datalastic Maritime MCP on Vinkius, then enter your unique Datalastic API Key.
2. Direct your AI client to use this MCP, telling it the specific vessel or port data you need (e.g., 'Find all tankers near Brazil').
3. The agent executes the necessary tool calls and returns consolidated, structured data about ship movements or terminal codes.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How do I use search_maritime_vessels to start tracking a ship?**
You first run search_maritime_vessels with the known name. The agent returns the vessel's MMSI number, which you then pass to get_vessel_status for its current location and ETA.

**What is the difference between searching ports by country and using get_port_details?**
search_ports_by_country gives you a list of all possible terminals in that nation. You must use get_port_details afterward, specifying which port from the list, to pull its exact coordinates.

**Can I find out how far away vessels are using find_vessels_in_radius?**
Yes. This tool lets you define a specific circular area and returns all active vessels within that radius, which is great for incident response or local monitoring.

**Does get_vessel_history work if the ship was sailing last year?**
It works with historical AIS data. You need to provide a date range and the vessel's unique ID; otherwise, the agent won't know which tracking path you want.

**What credentials do I need to use get_vessel_pro_specs?**
You must supply a valid Datalastic API key within your AI client's configuration. The MCP handles the secure transmission of this key for every call you make, so you don't have to worry about managing tokens manually.

**Are there rate limits when using find_vessels_in_radius?**
Yes, API usage is subject to standard rate limiting. If your agent sends too many requests in a short time, the system will return an error; you'll need to implement a retry mechanism or wait period.

**Does search_ports_by_name handle misspelled port names?**
The tool supports fuzzy matching and partial name searching. While direct matches are best, the system can usually find accurate results even if you've slightly mistyped a terminal or location.

**Does get_vessel_status provide predictive movement beyond ETA?**
No, it provides the current status and an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) based on existing data. It won't generate complex future route predictions; for that, you need separate modeling tools.

**Can I track a ship using its name?**
Yes! Use the `search_maritime_vessels` tool with the vessel's name. It will return a list of matching ships with their MMSI numbers, which you can then use for real-time tracking.

**What is an MMSI number?**
MMSI stands for Maritime Mobile Service Identity. It is a unique 9-digit number used to identify a vessel's radio equipment and is the primary identifier for AIS tracking.

**How can I find the official code for a port?**
Use the `search_ports_by_country` tool with the 2-letter ISO country code. The response will list ports in that country along with their official UN/LOCODEs.