Hydra
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Real-time naval vessel positions and status updates.

Vessels Stream

Stream ID: vessels Update frequency: Real-time (position reports as received) Required tier: Standard (5,000 Hydra)

Global naval vessel tracking — warships, coast guard, and high-interest maritime traffic.

Message Types

position_update

{
  "stream": "vessels",
  "type": "position_update",
  "ts": 1710000000000,
  "data": {
    "mmsi": "538007643",
    "name": "USS GRAVELY",
    "callsign": "NFXM",
    "flag": "US",
    "shipType": 35,
    "shipTypeLabel": "Military",
    "lat": 36.82,
    "lng": 28.14,
    "speed": 18.4,
    "course": 142.0,
    "heading": 140,
    "navStatus": "Under way using engine",
    "destination": "ISTANBUL",
    "eta": "2024-03-20T08:00:00Z",
    "length": 155,
    "width": 20,
    "draft": 6.2
  }
}

status_change

Fired when a vessel's navigational status changes (e.g. anchoring, departure).

{
  "stream": "vessels",
  "type": "status_change",
  "ts": 1710000000000,
  "data": {
    "mmsi": "538007643",
    "name": "USS GRAVELY",
    "previousStatus": "At anchor",
    "newStatus": "Under way using engine",
    "lat": 36.82,
    "lng": 28.14
  }
}

Schema Reference

Field Type Description
mmsi string Maritime Mobile Service Identity (9 digits)
name string Vessel name
callsign string Radio callsign
flag string ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code
shipType number AIS ship type code
shipTypeLabel string Human-readable ship type
lat number Latitude (decimal degrees)
lng number Longitude (decimal degrees)
speed number Speed over ground in knots
course number Course over ground in degrees
heading number True heading in degrees
navStatus string AIS navigational status
destination string | null Last reported destination
eta string | null ISO 8601 ETA
length number Length overall in metres
width number Beam in metres
draft number | null Draft in metres

Ship Type Codes

Key military-relevant AIS type codes:

Code Type
35 Military
55 Law enforcement / coast guard
51 Search and rescue
50 Pilot vessel