# 1.2 Vessel Search ## OpenAPI Specification ```yaml openapi: 3.0.1 info: title: '' description: '' version: 1.0.0 paths: /v1/AIS/VesselSearch: get: summary: 1.2 Vessel Search deprecated: false description: >- ## Description The Vessel Search API performs partial matching searches against keywords (MMSI, IMO Number, Vessel Name, Call Sign, etc.) to retrieve eligible vessel static records. It returns all historical MMSI records linked to a specified IMO Number, or information of all vessels that have ever used the given vessel name in history. **Note:** Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) is a 9-digit numeric code used in maritime radio communication systems for unique identification of individual and group call stations. Unique to each vessel, an MMSI code may be changed upon vessel sale; its first three digits indicate the country or region of registration. IMO Number (International Maritime Organization Number) is a unique 7-digit identifier assigned to each vessel by the International Maritime Organization, used for global tracking and administration of vessel identity, technical specifications and safety records. ## Use Cases This service is generally integrated into systems or platforms. Returned MMSI numbers can act as input parameters for Single Vessel Position Query and Vessel Historical Track Query, to retrieve real-time vessel position, operational status and historical voyage track. If you have a defined vessel MMSI list, you may skip this service and use Single Vessel Position API or Multi-Vessel Position API directly for fleet monitoring and management. ## Request Limits An API key must be created before using this service. This API has no access frequency limits—unlimited calls are allowed once access permission is granted. To apply for or inquire about your access permission, please contact our support team: support@elaneglobal.com. ## Endpoint | Endpoint | HTTP Method | Remarks | | --- | --- | --- | | `https://api.elaneglobal.com/v1/AIS/VesselSearch` | GET | When using partial matching with vessel name or IMO number, multiple results will be returned. You can distinguish them by referring to the latest AIS report time. Vessels may have their MMSI changed during ownership transfers or certain leasing processes. Old MMSI numbers will still be retained in records—filter them based on your specific use case. | ## Example API Call https://api.elaneglobal.com/apicall/v3/VesselSearch?key=1F6D701272402D1E7D8D316CCE519123&keywords=DENEBLEADER&max=5 Note: The key 1F6D701272402D1E7D8D316CCE519123 is the official key of elaneglobal.com, bound to the domain api.elaneglobal.com. Users are not authorized to use this key for data access—utilizing it will return a status code 14, indicating an error in the source domain. To trial the service, please contact our support team: support@elaneglobal.com. tags: - 1 AIS Dataset parameters: - name: key in: query description: Your personal Shipfinderer API key to verify service permissions required: true example: 1F6D701272402D1E7D8D316CCE519123 schema: type: string - name: keywords in: query description: >- The input keywords for vessel query can be vessel name, call sign, MMSI, IMO, etc. Matching Rule: MMSI is a 9-digit code; IMO is a 7-digit code. required: true example: DENEB LEADER schema: type: string - name: max in: query description: >- The maximum number of results to return, with a maximum value of 100. required: false example: 5 schema: type: integer responses: '0': description: '' content: application/json: schema: type: object properties: status: type: integer description: API call status code,0 means success title: Status code msg: type: string description: Exception prompt message title: Message total: type: integer title: Total description: Number of query results data: type: array items: type: object properties: match_type: type: integer description: |- Type of keyword matching results, matching types: 1=Ship name; 2=Call sign; 3=MMSI; 5=IMO title: Match Type mmsi: type: integer title: 'MMSI Number ' description: 9-digit numeric code of MMSI imo: type: integer title: IMO number description: 7-digit numeric code of IMO call_sign: type: string title: 'Call Sign ' description: 'Call Sign ' ship_name: type: string title: 'Vessel Name ' description: Vessel name data_source: type: integer title: AIS Data Source description: |- 0=Terrestrial AIS stations or Shipborne AIS; 1=Satellite AIS last_time: type: integer title: Last Update Time (UTC) description: AIS last update time in Unix timestamp required: - match_type - mmsi - imo - call_sign - ship_name - data_source - last_time x-apifox-orders: - match_type - mmsi - imo - call_sign - ship_name - data_source - last_time required: - status - msg - total - data x-apifox-orders: - status - msg - total - data example: status: 0 msg: '' total: 3 data: - match_type: 1 mmsi: 356688000 imo: 9738777 call_sign: 3EKQ ship_name: DENEB LEADER data_source: 0 last_time: 1773728217 - match_type: 1 mmsi: 346559616 imo: 9738777 call_sign: 3EKQ ship_name: DENEB LEADER data_source: 0 last_time: 1772838361 - match_type: 1 mmsi: 525007112 imo: 0 call_sign: '' ship_name: DENEB LEADER data_source: 0 last_time: 1765181535 headers: {} x-apifox-name: success security: [] x-apifox-folder: 1 AIS Dataset x-apifox-status: released x-run-in-apifox: https://app.apifox.com/web/project/7948067/apis/api-428749512-run components: schemas: {} securitySchemes: {} servers: [] security: [] ```