MarineTraffic MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides access to MarineTraffic vessel tracking data.

Features

This MCP server provides the following capabilities:

Tools

- get_vessel_position: Get real-time position of a vessel by MMSI or IMO number
- get_vessel_details: Get detailed information about a vessel by MMSI or IMO number
- search_vessels: Search for vessels by name, MMSI, IMO, or vessel type
- get_vessels_in_area: Get vessels in a specified geographic area

Resources

- vessel://{identifier}: Information about a vessel by MMSI or IMO number
- vessels://area/{lat}/{lon}/{radius}: List of vessels in a specified geographic area

Installation

Prerequisites

- Node.js 18 or higher
- A MarineTraffic API key (available from MarineTraffic API Services)

Setup

1. Clone this repository or download the source code
2. Install dependencies:

cd marinetraffic-server
npm install

3. Build the server:

npm run build

Configuration

The server requires a MarineTraffic API key to function. You can provide this through the environment variable MARINETRAFFIC_API_KEY.

MCP Settings Configuration

To use this server with Claude, add it to your MCP settings configuration file:

For Claude Desktop App (macOS)

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "marinetraffic": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/marinetraffic-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "MARINETRAFFIC_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

For Claude VSCode Extension

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "marinetraffic": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/marinetraffic-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "MARINETRAFFIC_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

Usage Examples

Once the server is configured and running, you can use it with Claude to access vessel tracking data:

Get Vessel Position

<use_mcp_tool>
<server_name>marinetraffic</server_name>
<tool_name>get_vessel_position</tool_name>
<arguments>
{
  "identifier": "123456789"
}
</arguments>
</use_mcp_tool>

Search for Vessels

<use_mcp_tool>
<server_name>marinetraffic</server_name>
<tool_name>search_vessels</tool_name>
<arguments>
{
  "vessel_name": "MAERSK"
}
</arguments>
</use_mcp_tool>

Get Vessels in Area

<use_mcp_tool>
<server_name>marinetraffic</server_name>
<tool_name>get_vessels_in_area</tool_name>
<arguments>
{
  "latitude": 37.8199,
  "longitude": -122.4783,
  "radius": 10
}
</arguments>
</use_mcp_tool>

Access Vessel Resource

<access_mcp_resource>
<server_name>marinetraffic</server_name>
<uri>vessel://123456789</uri>
</access_mcp_resource>

API Key Limitations

The MarineTraffic API has usage limits based on your subscription plan. Be aware of these limits when using the server to avoid exceeding your quota.

Troubleshooting

- API Key Errors: Ensure your MarineTraffic API key is valid and correctly set in the environment variables.
- Rate Limiting: If you encounter rate limiting errors, the server will automatically retry with exponential backoff, but you may need to wait before making additional requests.
_Example of detailed vessel information available through the API_

API Key Limitations

The MarineTraffic API has usage limits based on your subscription plan. Be aware of these limits when using the server to avoid exceeding your quota.

Troubleshooting

- API Key Errors: Ensure your MarineTraffic API key is valid and correctly set in the environment variables.
- Rate Limiting: If you encounter rate limiting errors, the server will automatically retry with exponential backoff, but you may need to wait before making additional requests.
- No Data Found: Some vessels may not have real-time tracking data available, especially smaller vessels or those in areas with limited AIS coverage.

License

This project is licensed under the ISC License.