How do I track a vessel by container number?
Tracking a vessel by container number
Tracking your shipments is crucial if you're a business owner who handles multiple container operations per month or year. First let's go over the key factors as to why Vessel Tracking with container number is important.
The first and most important factor is you get Real-Time Vessel tracking, having up-to-the minute updates on your vessel location via your container number with information such a speed, course, heading, draft, and ETA (estimated time of arrival) is invaluable information that can help you stay ahead of your competitors.
You can evaluate risk variables related to container transportation. You can effectively manage risk factors and guarantee the safety of your containers. For example this could be useful if you’re an insurance company who needs to estimate insurance premiums.
With real-time ship data you’ll be able to track your vessel in near real-time to see ships longitud and latitude so you could map the vessel location and visualize it.
Tracking a vessel with a container number can help you in preventing collision of ships, in following the trade status of each vessel and its cargo, in planning ahead of time to get your documentation ready as soon as your container docks.
Tracking a vessel with container number allows you to monitor the precise location of your container, ensuring that everything is in route to its intended destination.
Tracking a vessel step by step with container number
As you see, having accurate vessel data is key to tracking your shipments. We don't want to be secretive about the whole ordeal either, so we've created JSONCargo API to be as accessible as possible, with the setup taking just under 5 minutes to get started. Now we'll cover how to track your vessel by container number.
The first and most important step is to obtain the container number for the shipment you want to track. A container number is a unique alpha-numeric combination of seven numbers and four letters used for identifying containers internationally. This number is a unique identifier assigned to each shipping container. You can obtain this number from the shipping company responsible for your shipment. Example.
Get an API Key. You can do this by subscribing to one of the three JSONCargo API plan's. Link here. Your API Key will be sent directly to your email. Now that you have an API key, you can use it to make requests to JSONCargo's API.
Make a request to JSONCargo's API. The Cargo Vessel endpoint is used to search for and retrieve information on vessels in the database. It is accessed via the following URL:
https://api.jsoncargo.com/api/v0/vessel?api-key={YOUR_API_KEY}&{PARAMETER}={PARAMETER_NUMBER}
To make a request to the endpoint, you will need to replace {YOUR_API_KEY} with your actual API key, and specify any desired parameters and their values.
Add the appropiate parameters for your vessel query. We will go over a few of them in the next data table. For a more in depth look at our parameter and search queries you can go to our documentation page.
| Parameter | Data Type | Description | Example Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| vessel_id | integer | JSONCargo Unique identifier for the vessel | 1335667 |
| vessel_imo | string | Vessel International Maritime Organization number for the vessel | 8712345 |
| vessel_mmsi | string | Maritime Mobile Service Identity number for the vessel | 232000001 |
| callsign | string | Maritime call sign assigned for the vessel | ABC1234 |
| vessel_name | string | Name of the vessel | Maersk Explorer |
| longitude | float | Longitude coordinate of the vessel current location | -77.0364 |
| latitude | float | Latitude coordinate of the vessel current location | 38.8951 |
| atd | date time | Actual time of departure of a vessel from the last port (in YYYY-MM-DD; HH:MM in UTC) | 2024-03-27; 22:10 |
| eta | date time | Estimated time of arrival of a vessel to reported port (YYYY-MM-DD; HH:MM in UTC) | 2024-02-18; 23:00 |
| origin | string | The UN/LOCODE origin assigned of the vessel | AUABG |
| destination | string | The UN/LOCODE destination location of the vessel | NLROT |
| speed | float | Current speed of the vessel (in nautical knots) | 15.5 |
| course | float | Current course or heading of the vessel (in degrees) | 270.0 |
| heading | float | Current heading or direction of the vessel (in degrees) | 270.0 |
| vessel_status | string | Navigational Status of a vessel | Underway using Engine |
| last_updated | date time | Date and time when the vessel's information was last updated (in YYYY-MM-DD; HH:MM in UTC) | 2023-05-15; 13:20 |
| vessel_type | string | Type of vessel | Container Ship |
| vessel_subtype | string | Subtype or specific category of the vessel | Oil Tanker |
| cargo_type | string | Type of cargo currently carried by the vessel | Containerized Cargo |
| gross_tonnage | integer | Gross tonnage of the vessel (in metric tons) | 150000 |
| cargo_capacity | integer | Cargo capacity of the vessel (in TEU for container ships) | 10000 |
| dwt | integer | Deadweight tonnage is a measure of how much weight a ship can carry (in DWT) | 65000 |
| length_overall | integer | Length overall of the vessel (in meters) | 300 |
| beam | integer | Beam or width of the vessel (in meters) | 40 |
| draught | integer | Draught or depth of the vessel (in meters) | 14.5 |
| flag | string | UNLOCODE of the flag/country of the vessel | GB |
| year_built | date time | Year when the vessel was built in YYYY | 2001 |