Getting Started

Global Merchant Fleet Data

The Global Merchant Fleet Data provides access to Signal-AXSMarine's vessel database, returning comprehensive specifications for vessels across all market verticals — dry, tanker, gas and liner — in a single response. It consolidates identity, dimensions, ownership, equipment and shipbuilding data into one structured record per vessel.

A vessel record aggregates everything known about a ship into one object: its identity (IMO, MMSI, name and ex-names), particulars (type, dimensions, capacity, flag and class), equipment (engines, alternative-fuel readiness, wind propulsion, cranes), and the full chain of ownership and management entities — all returned together.

Key Features

🚢 Comprehensive Vessel Specifications – Retrieve basic particulars, detailed technical specs, onboard equipment, ownership and shipbuilding details in a single record per vessel.

🏢 Ownership & Management – Access the complete chain of business entities per vessel — ordering company, beneficial owner, registered owner, shipowner, technical and ISM managers, and commercial operator, plus the parent shipowner and parent commercial operator, each with country and IMO number.

⚙️ Equipment & Propulsion – Inspect engines, scrubbers, alternative-fuel capability and readiness (LNG, LPG, methanol, ammonia, ethane, hydrogen, battery), wind-assisted propulsion systems, cranes and tank capacities.

📊 Range & Capacity Filtering – Narrow results by deadweight, gross/net tonnage, TEU, lane meters and cargo-tank capacity using min/max bounds.

📅 Date Filtering – Filter by built-date range or return only vessels modified since a given date for efficient incremental syncing.

🎯 Flexible Filtering – Apply filters by:

Identity – IMO, MMSI, internal ID, current name, or ex-name
Classification – type, subtype and status, by name or by ID
Size – DWT, gross/net tonnage, TEU, lane meters, cargo-tank capacity
Dates – built date range and last-modified date
Market – set filter_by_onmarket=true to return only on-market vessels

📦 Pagination & Sorting – Page through large result sets with start and limit, and order results with order_by[] (e.g. order_by[]=name:desc&order_by[]=imo:asc).

All filter parameters are optional and AND-combined; calling the endpoint with no filters returns vessels using the default paging. This REST endpoint takes its input as query-string parameters and returns a flat, structured JSON record per vessel. For a nested response over the same database with richer querying, use the GraphQL endpoint.

Vessel Statuses

The status response field and the status filter accept the following values (each value is either on-market or off-market):

DELIVERED (on-market) — Active and trading; handed over from the yard to the owner and fully operational.
LAID UP (on-market) — Temporarily out of service (e.g. low demand); kept idle but maintained for future use.
ON ORDER (on-market) — Under construction under a firm, confirmed building contract.
OPTION (on-market) — A contractual option to order additional ships on the original contract's terms.
PENDING/RUMOUR (on-market) — Rumoured or under consideration; not yet confirmed by a firm contract.
UNDER REPAIR (on-market) — Temporarily out of service while undergoing repair or maintenance.
UNDER CONVERSION (on-market) — Being converted from one vessel type to another (e.g. tanker to FSO).
CANCELLED (off-market) — Order terminated before build; the ship was never constructed.
SCRAPPED (off-market) — Dismantled and no longer in existence as an operational vessel.
TOTAL LOSS (off-market) — Lost to sinking or severe damage; no longer active or trading.

Header Parameters

Authorizationstring Required

Token used for authentication.

Query Parameters

startinteger

Record offset to start returning results from, used for pagination in combination with limit. A value of 0 returns results from the beginning of the result set. To retrieve the next page, increase start by the value of limit. The end of the result set is signalled by an empty result list.

Default: 0
Example: ?start=50&limit=500

limitinteger

Maximum number of records to return per request, used for pagination in combination with start. The default when omitted is 25 and the maximum is 500.

Default: 25
Constraints: Minimum: 1. Maximum: 500.
Example: ?limit=500&start=0

order_by[]array

Sorts the result set. Each sort key is a string in the form field:direction, where direction is asc or desc, for example order_by[]=dwt:desc. Multiple sort keys can be supplied either as repeated array parameters, for example order_by[]=name:desc&order_by[]=imo:asc, or separated by commas, for example order_by[]=type:asc,dwt:desc. If the direction suffix is omitted, ascending order is applied.

Default: Unspecified
Constraints: Format per entry: fieldName:direction where di...

filter_by_onmarketboolean

When true, restricts results to vessels currently flagged as on-market (the on_market field). Corresponds to roughly 63,000 of the ~89,000 vessels in the database at the time of verification.

Example: ?filter_by_onmarket=true

idsarray

Returns only vessels with the specified SO-AXSMarine internal vessel identifiers. This is the platform's own vessel ID, distinct from IMO and MMSI. Multiple values must be separated by commas.

Example: ?ids=26172,27729

imosarray

Returns only vessels with the specified IMO numbers. Accepts one or more seven-digit IMO identifiers. Multiple values must be separated by commas (the repeated form imos[]=...&imos[]=... is also accepted).

Constraints: Seven-digit IMO numbers.
Example: ?imos=9811000,9806744

mmsisarray

Returns only vessels with the specified MMSI numbers. MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) is the nine-digit identifier used in AIS and digital maritime communication systems. Multiple values must be separated by commas.

Constraints: Nine-digit MMSI numbers.
Example: ?mmsis=353136000,477995300

vessel_namestring

Returns only vessels whose current registered name begins with the provided string. Matching is a prefix match, not a substring match.

Constraints: Prefix match.
Example: ?vessel_name=EVER&limit=10

vessel_ex_namestring

Returns only vessels that had a former name beginning with the provided string. Matching is a prefix match against historical (ex-) names.

Constraints: Prefix match.
Example: ?vessel_ex_name=AVIC&limit=10

dwt_mininteger

Returns only vessels with deadweight (DWT) greater than or equal to this value, in metric tonnes. DWT represents the maximum weight a vessel can safely carry, including cargo, fuel and stores. Combine with dwt_max to define a DWT range.

Constraints: Unit: metric tonnes (MT).
Example: ?dwt_min=50000&dwt_max=100000

dwt_maxinteger

Returns only vessels with deadweight (DWT) less than or equal to this value, in metric tonnes. Combine with dwt_min to define a DWT range.

Constraints: Unit: metric tonnes (MT).

gross_tonnage_mininteger

Returns only vessels with gross tonnage (GT) greater than or equal to this value. GT is a dimensionless measure of a vessel's total internal volume, used for regulatory and fee purposes. Combine with gross_tonnage_max to define a GT range.

Constraints: Dimensionless (GT).
Example: ?gross_tonnage_min=100000

gross_tonnage_maxinteger

Returns only vessels with gross tonnage (GT) less than or equal to this value. Combine with gross_tonnage_min to define a GT range.

Constraints: Dimensionless (GT).

net_tonnage_mininteger

Returns only vessels with net tonnage (NT) greater than or equal to this value. NT is a dimensionless measure of a vessel's revenue-earning cargo and passenger spaces, typically at least 30% of GT. Combine with net_tonnage_max to define an NT range.

Constraints: Dimensionless (NT).
Example: ?net_tonnage_min=5000&net_tonnage_max=50000

net_tonnage_maxinteger

Returns only vessels with net tonnage (NT) less than or equal to this value. Combine with net_tonnage_min to define an NT range.

Constraints: Dimensionless (NT).

teu_mininteger

Returns only vessels with nominal TEU capacity greater than or equal to this value. TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) is the number of standard 20-foot containers a vessel can carry. Meaningful for container ships only; vessels without a TEU value are excluded when this filter is applied. Combine with teu_max to define a range.

Constraints: Unit: TEU. Meaningful for container ships only.
Example: ?teu_min=5000&teu_max=24000

teu_maxinteger

Returns only vessels with nominal TEU capacity less than or equal to this value. Combine with teu_min to define a TEU capacity range.

Constraints: Unit: TEU. Meaningful for container ships only.

trailers_lane_meters_mininteger

Returns only vessels with lane metre capacity greater than or equal to this value. Lane metres measure the space available for wheeled cargo on RoRo vessels. Meaningful for RoRo vessels only. Combine with trailers_lane_meters_max to define a range.

Constraints: Unit: lane metres (lm). Meaningful for RoRo vessels only.
Example: ?trailers_lane_meters_min=2000&trailers_lane_meters_max=6000

trailers_lane_meters_maxinteger

Returns only vessels with lane metre capacity less than or equal to this value. Combine with trailers_lane_meters_min to define a lane metre range.

Constraints: Unit: lane metres (lm). Meaningful for RoRo vessels only.

cubic_capacity_cargo_tanks_mininteger

Returns only vessels with total cargo tank cubic capacity greater than or equal to this value, in cubic metres. Represents the maximum internal volume available for liquid cargo. The value must be a whole number; although the returned data field is a decimal, this filter only accepts integers. Combine with cubic_capacity_cargo_tanks_max to define a range.

Constraints: Unit: cubic metres (m3). Integer only.
Example: ?cubic_capacity_cargo_tanks_min=50000

cubic_capacity_cargo_tanks_maxinteger

Returns only vessels with total cargo tank cubic capacity less than or equal to this value, in cubic metres. The value must be a whole number. Combine with cubic_capacity_cargo_tanks_min to define a range.

Constraints: Unit: cubic metres (m3). Integer only.

built_date_fromstring

Returns only vessels with a built date (actual delivery from shipyard) on or after this date. Format yyyy-mm-dd. Combine with built_date_to to filter by a delivery date range.

Constraints: Format: yyyy-mm-dd.
Example: ?built_date_from=2020-01-01&built_date_to=2020-12-31

built_date_tostring

Returns only vessels with a built date on or before this date. Format yyyy-mm-dd. Combine with built_date_from to filter by a delivery date range.

Constraints: Format: yyyy-mm-dd.

last_modified_date_fromstring

Returns only vessels whose record was last updated on or after this date or timestamp. Accepted formats: yyyy-mm-dd or yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss. Useful for incremental data pulls and change detection. There is no last_modified_date_to counterpart.

Constraints: Format: yyyy-mm-dd or yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss. No corresponding To parameter exists.
Example: ?last_modified_date_from=2026-01-01

statusesarray

Returns only vessels with the specified commercial status name(s). Use status_ids to filter by numeric identifier instead. Accepted values: DELIVERED, ON ORDER, SCRAPPED, CANCELLED, TOTAL LOSS, LAID UP, UNDER REPAIR, UNDER CONVERSION, OPTION, PENDING/RUMOUR. Multiple values must be separated by commas.

Constraints: Accepted values: DELIVERED, ON ORDER, SCRAPPED, CANCELLED, TOTAL LOSS, LAID UP, UNDER REPAIR, UNDER CONVERSION, OPTION, PENDING/RUMOUR.
Example: `?statuses=DELI...

Enum values:

DELIVEREDLAID UPON ORDEROPTIONPENDING/RUMOURUNDER REPAIRUNDER CONVERSIONCANCELLEDSCRAPPEDTOTAL LOSS

status_idsarray

Returns only vessels with the specified status identifier(s), corresponding to SO-AXSMarine's internal status catalog. Use statuses to filter by status name instead. Multiple values must be separated by commas.

Example: ?status_ids=1,2

typesarray

Returns only vessels of the specified vessel type(s), using SO-AXSMarine's internal vessel type categorisation. Use type_ids to filter by numeric identifier instead. Valid values (case-insensitive): Bulk carrier, MPP, Liner - Containership, Tanker, Gas carrier, Other, Ro-ro, Passenger, Reefer. Note that Container Ship is a sub-type, not a type — the corresponding type is Liner - Containership. Multiple values must be separated by commas.

Constraints: Case-insensitive. Valid valu...

Enum values:

Bulk carrierMPPLiner - ContainershipTankerGas carrierOtherRo-roPassengerReefer

type_idsarray

Returns only vessels with the specified vessel type identifier(s), corresponding to SO-AXSMarine's internal vessel type catalog. Use types to filter by name instead. Multiple values must be separated by commas.

Example: ?type_ids=221

subtypesarray

Returns only vessels of the specified vessel sub-type(s), using SO-AXSMarine's internal sub-categorisation. Use subtype_ids to filter by numeric identifier instead. The full list of valid sub-type values per type is published on the Vessel Types reference page. Multiple values must be separated by commas.

Constraints: Case-insensitive. See the Vessel Types reference page for the full list of sub-types per type.
Example: `?subtypes=Crude%20Oil%20Tanker,Open%20Hatch%20Carrie...

subtype_idsarray

Returns only vessels with the specified vessel sub-type identifier(s), corresponding to SO-AXSMarine's internal subtype catalog. Use subtypes to filter by name instead. Multiple values must be separated by commas.

Example: ?subtype_ids=76

Response

200

Object

Response Attributes

dataarray

Matching vessels. Empty array when there are no matches or on upstream error.

Show child attributes

Sections

Global Merchant Fleet Data

Key Features

Vessel Statuses

Header Parameters

Query ParametersExpand all

ResponseExpand all

Response Attributes

Response

Query Parameters

Response