AIS Trail
Live AIS ship positions, vessel history, port calls and events, plus sanctions flags. Read-only.
Install
Add this to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json; Cursor: .cursor/mcp.json; VS Code and others use the same "mcpServers" shape).
claude mcp add --transport http ais-trail 'https://api.aistrail.com/mcp' --header 'Authorization: <Optional. "Bearer <your AIS Trail API key>" for the archive tools (vessel_track, vessel_port_calls, port_calls, vessel_events, lookup_vessels). The live tools work without it.>'{
"mcpServers": {
"ais-trail": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.aistrail.com/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "<Optional. \"Bearer <your AIS Trail API key>\" for the archive tools (vessel_track, vessel_port_calls, port_calls, vessel_events, lookup_vessels). The live tools work without it.>"
}
}
}
}Documentation
From the project's README on GitHub, refreshed weekly. Links open on GitHub.
AIS Trail MCP server
Ship data for AI assistants: live AIS positions, vessel history, port calls, vessel events and sanctions flags. A hosted, read-only MCP server; there is nothing to install.
- Endpoint:
https://api.aistrail.com/mcp(Streamable HTTP) - Registry name:
com.aistrail/ais - Docs: https://aistrail.com/docs/mcp/
This repository holds the documentation for the hosted server. The server runs at AIS Trail.
Connect
The live tools work without a key. The archive tools need an AIS Trail API key, sent as Authorization: Bearer <key>. You can get one at https://aistrail.com (the Free plan includes one).
Claude Code:
claude mcp add --transport http aistrail https://api.aistrail.com/mcp \
--header "Authorization: Bearer $AIS_TRAIL_KEY"Clients that take a JSON config (VS Code, Cursor and others):
{
"servers": {
"aistrail": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.aistrail.com/mcp",
"headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_AIS_TRAIL_KEY" }
}
}
}Leave out headers to use only the live tools.
Tools
| Tool | What it answers | Key |
|---|---|---|
search_vessels | Find ships by name, MMSI or IMO number | No |
get_vessel | One ship now: identity, flag, size, position, speed, course, destination and ETA | No |
vessels_in_area | Ships heard in the last hour inside a box | No |
vessels_near | Ships heard in the last hour near a point or another ship | No |
find_port | Ports by name, UN/LOCODE or country | No |
data_status | Live ship count, archive coverage and data freshness | No |
vessel_track | Where a ship has been between two times | Yes |
vessel_port_calls | A ship's port calls with draught and cargo estimate | Yes |
port_calls | Arrivals and departures at one port | Yes |
vessel_events | Port arrivals and departures, stops, changes of name, IMO, destination or flag, AIS gaps and close encounters | Yes |
lookup_vessels | Records of up to 20 ships at once, with sanctions list flags (OFAC, UK, EU) | Yes |
Archive tools use the credits of your AIS Trail plan, the same way as the REST API. See the docs for the details.
Data
- Coverage: coverage map and data sources.
- REST API: https://aistrail.com/docs/
- Not for navigation.
Support
Open an issue in this repository or write to hello@aistrail.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is AIS Trail?
Live AIS ship positions, vessel history, port calls and events, plus sanctions flags. Read-only.
How do I install AIS Trail?
It runs as a remote server. In Claude Code: claude mcp add --transport http ais-trail 'https://api.aistrail.com/mcp' --header 'Authorization: <Optional. "Bearer <your AIS Trail API key>" for the archive tools (vessel_track, vessel_port_calls, port_calls, vessel_events, lookup_vessels). The live tools work without it.>'. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.
Does AIS Trail need an API key?
Yes. It expects Authorization, which you set in its configuration.
Is AIS Trail open source?
Its code is public on GitHub, but the repository does not declare a standard license.
Who maintains AIS Trail?
It is published by aistrail. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.
From the official MCP Registry. Listing is not an endorsement: review a server's code and permissions before giving it access to your data.