ShippingRates MCP Server
About
Ocean container shipping intelligence for AI agents: D&D tariffs, freight rates, vessel schedules, port congestion, inland haulage, and total cost calculation across 6 major carriers (Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, COSCO, ONE, CMA CGM). 24 MCP tools — 4 free + 20 paid via x402 USDC mi
Details
- Author
- vinaybhosle
- Downloads
- 257
- Categories
- Other, API
Jump to
- 24 tools for container shipping intelligence across 6 carriers
- Real-time detention & demurrage (D&D) slab breakdowns
- Cross-carrier comparison for D&D, inland, and total cost
- Vessel schedules, port congestion, and transit times
- Full landed cost with freight, surcharges, local charges
- Free tier: 25 requests/month at api.shippingrates.org
Setting up with Highlight
This MCP is not yet compatible with Highlight’s one-click setup. However, you can still use it with Highlight by following these steps:
- Download and install Highlight from highlightai.com/download
- Navigate to the plugins tab and select "Add Custom Plugin"
-
Configure the plugin with the settings below
Plugin Name
ShippingRates MCP ServerCommand (node, npx, python, etc.)Please refer to the README for specific instructions on how to obtain API keys or other required environment variables.
- Enable "Start Automatically" if you want the plugin to start when Highlight launches
From the repository
Connect any MCP-compatible client to the remote endpoint https://mcp.shippingrates.org/mcp using npx -y mcp-remote. Paid tools require x402 USDC micropayments on Base or Solana; free tools work without payment. A free tier (25 requests/month) is also available at api.shippingrates.org.
shippingrates_stats
Get current counts from ShippingRates customer-published datasets. Use this before calling data tools. Counts include only certified dependencies that are currently publishable; uncertified or unavailable families report zero instead of falling back to legacy database rows. The countries and shipping_lines fields are distinct counts represented in the published D&D tariff family. FREE — no payment required. Returns: { tariff_records, ports, transit_schedules, freight_rates, local_charges, shipping_lines, countries, last_scrape (ISO datetime) } Related tools: Use shippingrates_lines for per-carrier breakdowns, shippingrates_search for keyword discovery.
shippingrates_lines
List reviewed shipping-line identities that currently have live D&D coverage, with per-country record counts. Use this to discover which carrier-country D&D combinations are currently available before querying a tariff tool. FREE — no payment required. Returns: Array of { shipping_line, country, records }. Related tools: Use shippingrates_stats for aggregate totals, shippingrates_search for keyword-based discovery.
shippingrates_search
Search current customer-published ShippingRates datasets by keyword. Matches certified port codes/names, reviewed carrier identities, published transit services, and published local-charge names/carriers. Uncertified families remain empty and legacy rows are never used as a fallback. FREE — no payment required. Returns: { query, results: { ports, shipping_lines, trade_lanes, regulatory, local_charges } }. Related tools: Use shippingrates_port for structured port lookup by UN/LOCODE, shippingrates_lines for full carrier listing.
shippingrates_dd_calculate
Calculate demurrage and detention (D&D) costs for one carrier in one country. Use this when the user needs a detailed cost breakdown for a specific carrier. Returns free days, per-diem rates for each tariff slab, and total cost. This is the core tool for logistics cost analysis — it answers "how much will I pay if my container is detained X days?" To compare D&D costs across all carriers at once, use shippingrates_dd_compare instead. By default this returns carrier detention/demurrage. Pass charge_type="storage" to instead get TERMINAL port storage — a distinct charge billed by the terminal, not the carrier, and never mixed into the default D&D answer. Storage coverage is thin — only a handful of carrier/country lanes have it. Any uncovered combo returns an explicit 'no data' error (never a false $0), and that error names the lanes that ARE covered, derived live from the database rather than from a hardcoded list that would go stale. PAID: $0.10/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: { line, country, container_type, days, free_days, breakdown, total_cost, currency, charge_type_served, charge_family: 'carrier_dd'|'terminal_storage' }
shippingrates_dd_compare
Compare demurrage and detention costs across ALL available carriers for the same country, container type, and detention days. Use this for freight procurement and carrier selection — it answers "which carrier has the cheapest D&D in this country?" Returns a side-by-side comparison with each carrier's free days, slab rates, and total cost sorted cheapest first. For a single carrier's detailed D&D breakdown, use shippingrates_dd_calculate instead. PAID: $0.25/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { line, free_days, total_cost, currency, slabs } for each available carrier, sorted by total_cost ascending.
shippingrates_local_charges
Get local charges at a port for a specific carrier — Terminal Handling Charges (THC), documentation fees (BL/DO), seal fees, and other port-specific charges. Use this when calculating total shipping costs at origin or destination. Combine with shippingrates_dd_calculate for a complete port cost picture, or use shippingrates_total_cost for an all-in-one landed cost estimate. PAID: $0.05/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { charge_type, charge_name, amount, currency, container_type, direction } for all applicable charges at the port.
shippingrates_inland_search
Search for available inland transport routes (road/rail haulage) from port to inland destinations for a specific carrier. Use this to discover what haulage routes a carrier offers in a country. For example, search "ahmedabad" to find routes from Nhava Sheva to Ahmedabad via Maersk. Returns route options with ICD/CFS codes and available container types. For actual haulage rate quotes, use shippingrates_inland_haulage. For cross-carrier rate comparison, use shippingrates_inland_compare. PAID: $0.03/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { origin, destination, mode, container_types, icd_code } matching the search criteria.
shippingrates_cfs_tariffs
Get Container Freight Station (CFS) handling tariffs — charges for LCL (Less than Container Load) cargo consolidation and deconsolidation at port warehouses. Use this for LCL shipments to estimate warehouse handling costs. Returns per-unit handling rates, minimum charges, and storage fees at the specified port. Not relevant for FCL (Full Container Load) shipments. PAID: $0.05/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { facility, service_type, cargo_type, rate_per_unit, unit, minimum_charge, currency }.
shippingrates_inland_haulage
Get inland haulage (trucking/rail) rates for moving containers between a port and an inland location. Use this when you know the specific origin port and destination and need rate quotes. Returns route-specific rates by container type including base rate, fuel surcharges, and estimated transit times. To discover what routes exist first, use shippingrates_inland_search. To compare rates across all carriers for the same route, use shippingrates_inland_compare. PAID: $0.05/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { carrier, origin, destination, container_type, rate, fuel_surcharge, total, currency, transit_days, mode, delivery_mode, icd_code }.
shippingrates_port
Look up port details by UN/LOCODE — name, country, coordinates, timezone, and terminal facilities. Use this to validate port codes or get port metadata. If you don't know the UN/LOCODE, use shippingrates_search with the port or city name first. PAID: $0.01/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: { port_code, port_name, country, country_code, lat, lon, timezone, facilities }
shippingrates_transit
Get estimated ocean transit times between two ports across all available carriers. Use this for quick transit time comparison between ports — answers "how long does it take to ship from A to B?" Returns carrier-specific transit durations, service types, and frequencies. For detailed routing with transhipment ports and service codes, use shippingrates_transit_schedules instead. PAID: $0.02/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { carrier, transit_days, service_type, frequency, direct_or_transhipment }.
shippingrates_rates
Get current certified freight benchmark observations between two ports, optionally filtered by container type. These are official published market indices, not carrier spot quotes or contracted rates. An unsupported lane returns an empty rates array. For a published multi-component estimate, use shippingrates_total_cost and inspect its coverage, data_gaps, and total_is_partial fields. PAID: $0.03/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: { route, rates: [{ trade_lane_name, origin_port, origin_region, destination_port, destination_region, container_type, rate_low, rate_mid, rate_high, currency, index_source, trend, week_over_week_change_pct, rate_date }], carriers, transit_days_min, transit_days_max, rate_low?, rate_mid?, rate_high?, trend?, currency? }.
shippingrates_surcharges
Get carrier-specific surcharges — BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor), CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor), PSS (Peak Season Surcharge), EBS (Emergency Bunker Surcharge), and more. Use this to understand surcharge exposure for a carrier in a specific country/direction. These are charges added on top of base freight rates. For a complete cost breakdown, use shippingrates_total_cost which includes surcharges automatically. PAID: $0.02/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { surcharge_type, surcharge_name, amount, currency, per_unit, effective_from, effective_to, direction }.
shippingrates_congestion
Get certified port-authority congestion measurements for a specific port. Only fields explicitly published by the authority are populated; unavailable measurements remain null and an unpublished severity remains "unknown". The current certified denominator is the Port of Los Angeles daily operations report (USLAX), including exact vessels-at-berth and local-cargo dwell values. For disruption advisories, use shippingrates_congestion_news instead. PAID: $0.02/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns the unchanged API envelope: { port, port_name, current_level, days_back, history[] }.
shippingrates_reliability
Get the latest certified public schedule-reliability highlights for a carrier. Use this for carrier selection and high-level benchmarking. Only metrics explicitly published in the source highlight are returned; unpublished carrier delay or sample-size fields remain null. PAID: $0.02/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns the unchanged API reliability envelope with source, period, freshness, and published metric fields.
shippingrates_vessel_schedule
Get upcoming vessel arrivals and departures at a specific port. Use this to check what vessels are expected at a port — useful for booking planning and tracking. Returns vessel names, carriers, ETAs/ETDs, and service routes. For transit time estimates between two ports, use shippingrates_transit. For detailed service-level routing, use shippingrates_transit_schedules. PAID: $0.02/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { vessel_name, carrier, voyage, eta, etd, service, from_port, to_port }.
shippingrates_vessel_schedule_options
Get carrier vessel/voyage schedule options between an origin and destination, including operational cutoff deadlines when the carrier source publishes them. Use this for booking planning questions that need vessel details, voyage number, transshipment ports, ETA/ETD, and port/SI/VGM cutoffs. Missing cutoff fields remain null or absent; ShippingRates does not infer unpublished deadlines. For port-call monitoring without cutoff details, use shippingrates_vessel_schedule. PAID: $0.03/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: { origin, destination, options: Array<{ carrier, vessel_name, vessel_imo, voyage_number, etd, eta, transshipment_ports, cutoffs, source_url }>, coverage }.
shippingrates_regulatory
Get recent shipping regulatory updates and compliance requirements for a specific country — customs regulations, documentation requirements, trade restrictions, and policy changes. Use this to stay current on regulatory changes that may affect shipments to/from a country. PAID: $0.01/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: { updates: Array of { country, authority, subject, summary, category, reference_number, effective_date, source, source_url, scraped_at } }.
shippingrates_total_cost
Calculate a published multi-component shipping-cost estimate from certified dependencies: freight benchmark observations when available, surcharges, origin/destination local charges, requested demurrage/detention exposure, FX, and transit context. The result can be partial. A market index is not a carrier quote, and a missing component is counted as zero only when the response explicitly reports the gap. Always inspect coverage, data_gaps, total_is_partial, warning, and each component's verified flag before quoting the result. For individual components, use shippingrates_rates, shippingrates_surcharges, shippingrates_local_charges, and shippingrates_dd_calculate. PAID: $0.15/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: { components: { freight: { amount, currency, basis, verified }, origin_local_charges / destination_local_charges: { port, items: [{ charge, amount, currency, charge_type ('mandatory'|'additional'), charge_type_reason? }], total, mandatory_total, additional_total, currency: 'INR', verified }, surcharges: { items, total, verified }, detention_demurrage? }, coverage, data_gaps?, transit_days, total_estimated_cost_usd, total_estimated_cost_inr, totals_basis: 'mandatory_only', total_additional_cost_usd/inr, total_all_inclusive_cost_usd/inr }. IMPORTANT: the headline total_estimated_cost_* sums MANDATORY charges only (freight, lane surcharges, mandatory local charges, requested D&D). Conditional/if-applicable fees (amendments, penalties, cargo-type surcharges) are excluded from the headline — they are itemized with charge_type='additional' and summed in total_additional_cost_*; total_all_inclusive_cost_* is the sum of both.
shippingrates_fx
Get the current certified ECB reference rate between two supported currencies — useful for converting shipping costs quoted in different currencies (USD, EUR, INR, SGD, CNY, JPY, and the rest of the official ECB daily series). Use this to normalize costs from different carriers/countries to a common currency for comparison. The official publication is updated on ECB working days; unsupported currencies fail closed. FREE — no payment required. Returns: { rate, from, to, source, fetched_at, cache_age_minutes }
shippingrates_transit_schedules
Get detailed transit schedules for a specific carrier — service codes, routing via transhipment ports, transit days, and sailing frequency. Use this when you need routing details beyond just transit time — e.g., which transhipment ports are used, what service string applies, or weekly frequency. For a quick transit time comparison across all carriers, use shippingrates_transit instead. PAID: $0.03/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { carrier, service_code, origin, destination, transit_days, transhipment_ports[], frequency, direct }.
shippingrates_facilities
Search India's current official ICEGATE Inland Container Depot (ICD) and Container Freight Station (CFS) directory by source-published facility code, name, and type. Use this to resolve an official ICEGATE ICD/CFS code or facility name. Optional operational attributes remain null unless a separate official source publishes and certifies them; the current edition does not assert GPS, rail, operator, or capacity data. PAID: $0.02/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns the existing facility response shape, with certified code/name/type and null for unsupported optional attributes.
shippingrates_congestion_news
Get certified shipping-disruption publications from reviewed official port-authority sources. The current publisher denominator is the official Port of Rotterdam and Port of Los Angeles news series. Every article in each finite collection window is retained; only explicit operational-disruption terms enter the customer result, and a successful zero-advisory collection stays empty instead of inventing an alert. For quantitative measurements, use shippingrates_congestion. For route-level risk scoring, use shippingrates_risk_score. PAID: $0.02/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns the unchanged API array of { headline, summary, source, port_code, severity, published_at }.
shippingrates_inland_compare
Compare inland haulage rates across ALL available carriers for a port-to-ICD/city pair — sorted cheapest first. Use this for carrier selection on inland legs — answers "which carrier offers the cheapest trucking/rail from port X to city Y?" For a single carrier's rates, use shippingrates_inland_haulage instead. To discover what routes exist, use shippingrates_inland_search first. Ramp (ICD/CFS pickup) and door delivery rates are never mixed in one comparison — delivery_mode defaults to 'ramp'. Set delivery_mode='door' to compare door-delivery rates instead. PAID: $0.08/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: Array of { carrier, mode, container_type, rate, currency, transit_days, weight_bracket, delivery_mode, icd_code } sorted by rate ascending.
shippingrates_risk_score
Get a deterministic route-risk score (0-100) from current certified port-congestion measurements and explicit official disruption advisories. Unknown inputs contribute zero points. A route is scored only when at least one current, source-published signal applies; unsupported routes return no result instead of an estimated score. Chokepoint impacts use an immutable, certified UN/LOCODE mapping for Hormuz, Suez, Bab el-Mandeb, Malacca, and Panama. For exact measurements, use shippingrates_congestion. For advisory detail, use shippingrates_congestion_news. PAID: $0.10/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns the unchanged API result shape: { origin_risk, dest_risk, route_risk_score, active_alerts[], chokepoints_affected[] }.
shippingrates_dd_countdown
Given a container's carrier, country, container type and ARRIVAL DATE, report how many free days remain, the first chargeable day, the per-diem once charging starts, cost accrued so far, and a forward cost projection. Use this to answer "how long until this container starts costing demurrage, and how much per day?" — the proactive companion to shippingrates_dd_calculate (which answers a fixed number of days). Same underlying tariff engine, so the numbers agree. The free-time clock starts at the carrier-defined event (port discharge or ICD rail arrival) — the arrival_date is taken as supplied, not carrier-confirmed (data_basis = user_supplied_arrival). Pass charge_type="storage" for a TERMINAL storage countdown instead of carrier D&D (thin coverage — see charge_type param). The response's charge_family field ('carrier_dd' | 'terminal_storage') always discloses which one answered the request. PAID: $0.10/call via x402 (USDC on Base or Solana). Without payment, returns 402 with payment instructions. Returns: { free_days_total, days_elapsed, free_days_remaining, free_time_ends_on, status, accrued_cost, current_daily_rate, currency, forecast[] }
Claude Desktop / Cursor
Paste into your MCP client config file to install this server.
{
"mcpServers": {
"shippingrates mcp server": {
"shippingrates": {
"url": "https://mcp.shippingrates.org/mcp"
}
}
}
}McpServers
{
"shippingrates": {
"url": "https://mcp.shippingrates.org/mcp"
}
}ShippingRates MCP Server
Ocean container shipping intelligence for AI agents — real carrier tariff data, detention & demurrage, freight rates, vessel schedules, and total landed cost across 6 major carriers.
Remote MCP endpoint: https://mcp.shippingrates.org/mcp
Overview
ShippingRates gives AI agents access to structured, carrier-sourced data for container shipping decisions — D&D slab breakdowns, local port charges, inland haulage rates, freight rates, vessel schedules, port congestion, and full landed cost calculations.
Carriers covered: Maersk · Hapag-Lloyd · MSC · COSCO · ONE · CMA CGM
Quickstart
Connect any MCP-compatible client to the remote endpoint:
{
"mcpServers": {
"shippingrates": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.shippingrates.org/mcp"]
}
}
}
> Paid tools require an x402 USDC payment on Base or Solana. Free tools work without any payment.
Tools (24 total)
Free (no payment required)
| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| shippingrates_stats | Database statistics — record counts, carrier coverage, last updated |
| shippingrates_lines | List all shipping lines with country-level breakdowns |
| shippingrates_search | Cross-data keyword search across ports, carriers, charges |
| shippingrates_fx | Live exchange rates (USD base) |
Paid (x402 USDC micropayments)
| Tool | Price | Description |
|------|-------|-------------|
| dd_calculate | $0.10 | D&D slab breakdown by carrier, port, container type, and days over free time |
| dd_compare | $0.25 | Cross-carrier D&D comparison at the same port |
| local_charges | $0.05 | THC, documentation, seal, and BL fees by port and carrier |
| inland_search | $0.03 | Search inland routes by origin/destination |
| inland_haulage | $0.05 | Trucking and rail rates (12 origins, 72 destinations) |
| inland_compare | $0.08 | Compare inland rates across carriers |
| cfs_tariffs | $0.05 | CFS handling tariffs (APM Terminals — INMAA, INMUN) |
| port | $0.01 | Port lookup by UN/LOCODE |
| transit | $0.02 | Port-to-port transit times |
| transit_schedules | $0.03 | Transit schedules with carrier service codes and frequency |
| rates | $0.03 | Ocean spot freight rates with low/mid/high and trend |
| surcharges | $0.02 | BAF, CAF, PSS surcharges by carrier |
| congestion | $0.02 | Port congestion metrics and historical wait times |
| congestion_news | $0.02 | Real-time shipping disruption news from 7 sources |
| reliability | $0.02 | Schedule reliability (on-time %) by carrier |
| vessel_schedule | $0.02 | Upcoming vessel calls at a port with ETA/ETD |
| regulatory | $0.01 | Regulatory updates by country |
| total_cost | $0.15 | Full landed cost: freight + surcharges + local charges + D&D |
| facilities | $0.02 | India ICD/CFS facility directory |
| risk_score | $0.10 | Composite route risk assessment (0–100 score) |
Example: Calculate D&D for a shipment
What are the detention and demurrage charges for a 20ft dry container at Nhava Sheva
(INNSA) on Maersk if it's been 10 days over free time?
The dd_calculate tool returns a slab-by-slab breakdown with daily rates, total accrued, and free time details — sourced directly from Maersk's published tariff.
Payment
Paid tools use the x402 protocol — a standard for HTTP micropayments. When an agent calls a paid tool:
1. The server responds 402 Payment Required with a USDC payment details
2. The agent pays via Base Mainnet or Solana (USDC)
3. The agent retries with an X-PAYMENT header
4. Data is returned
Payment amounts range from $0.01 to $0.25 per call. No subscriptions, no API keys needed for basic access.
Free Tier
The API also offers a free tier: 25 API requests/month via api.shippingrates.org. Sign up at shippingrates.org.
Dashboard
Human-facing dashboard at app.shippingrates.org with D&D calculator, carrier comparator, inland routes explorer, vessel schedules, and rate calculator.
Links
- Homepage: https://shippingrates.org
- API Docs: https://api.shippingrates.org/docs
- MCP Endpoint: https://mcp.shippingrates.org/mcp
- x402 Discovery: https://api.shippingrates.org/.well-known/x402.json
- Agent Discovery: https://api.shippingrates.org/.well-known/agents.json
- OpenAPI Spec: https://api.shippingrates.org/openapi.json
License
MIT
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