Navigation Infrastructure API
Query data on maritime navigation aids including lighthouses, radio beacons, DGPS stations, and mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs). Used in electronic chart systems, voyage planning, and maritime applications.
About Navigation Aids
Navigation infrastructure encompasses the physical aids and electronic systems that help mariners navigate safely. From traditional lighthouses that have guided ships for centuries to modern differential GPS stations providing centimeter-level positioning accuracy, these systems form the backbone of maritime safety.
The API provides access to four categories of navigation infrastructure, each available through both search and location-based endpoints. This data is sourced from official hydrographic publications and updated weekly (Sundays at 12:00 UTC).
Infrastructure Types
Light Aids to Navigation
Includes lighthouses, light beacons, sector lights, and other illuminated aids. Data includes light characteristics (color, pattern, range), geographic position, and structural details.
Endpoints: /search/lightaids, /location/lightaids/*
Radio Beacons
Marine radio beacons that transmit signals for direction finding and position fixing. Includes frequency, range, identification signal, and operational schedule.
Endpoints: /search/radiobeacons, /location/radiobeacons/*
DGPS Stations
Differential GPS reference stations that broadcast correction signals to improve GPS accuracy for maritime users. Includes station position, coverage area, and broadcast frequency.
Endpoints: /search/dgps, /location/dgps/*
Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs)
Offshore drilling platforms and vessels that represent navigational hazards. Includes current positions, safety zones, and operational status.
Endpoints: /search/modus, /location/modu/*
Use Cases
Electronic Chart Systems
Overlay navigation aids on electronic charts. Display light characteristics and beacon information for bridge navigation systems.
Voyage Planning Software
Identify navigation aids along planned routes. Calculate light visibility and verify beacon coverage for safe passage.
Maritime Research
Study the distribution and characteristics of navigation infrastructure. Analyze coverage patterns and identify underserved areas.
Offshore Operations
Track MODU positions for offshore supply vessel routing and collision avoidance in oil and gas operations.
Available Endpoints
Endpoint Pattern: Each infrastructure type follows the same pattern with search and location-based endpoints. For search, replace {type} with: lightaids, radiobeacons, dgps, or modus. For location queries, use: lightaids, radiobeacons, dgps, or modu.
/search/{type}
Search Navigation Aids
Search for navigation infrastructure by name. Returns a paginated list of matching results with full details.
Parameters:
filter.name- Name to search for (required)pagination.limit- Results per page (max 50, default 20)pagination.nextToken- Cursor for next page of results
Available Endpoints:
/search/lightaids- Search lighthouses and light aids/search/radiobeacons- Search radio beacons/search/dgps- Search DGPS stations/search/modus- Search offshore drilling units
/location/{type}/bounding-box
Find in Bounding Box
Find all navigation aids within a rectangular geographic area. Ideal for map displays showing aids in the current viewport. Maximum total span of 4 degrees (|latTop - latBottom| + |lonRight - lonLeft| ≤ 4).
Parameters:
filter.latBottom,filter.latTop- Latitude boundsfilter.lonLeft,filter.lonRight- Longitude boundspagination.limit- Results per page (max 50, default 20)pagination.nextToken- Cursor for next page of results
/location/{type}/radius
Find Within Radius
Find all navigation aids within a specified distance from a center point. Useful for identifying aids near a vessel's position or along a route.
Parameters:
filter.latitude- Center point latitudefilter.longitude- Center point longitudefilter.radius- Search radius in meters (required, max 100,000)pagination.limit- Results per page (max 50, default 20)pagination.nextToken- Cursor for next page of results
Code Examples
Find Lighthouses Near Position (cURL)
curl -X GET "https://api.vesselapi.com/v1/location/lightaids/radius?filter.latitude=51.5&filter.longitude=3.5&filter.radius=50000" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"Search DGPS Stations (Python)
import requests
response = requests.get(
"https://api.vesselapi.com/v1/search/dgps",
headers={"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"},
params={"filter.name": "North Sea", "pagination.limit": 20}
)
stations = response.json()
for station in stations["dgpsStations"]:
print(f"{station['name']} - Freq: {station['frequency']} kHz")Get MODUs in Area (JavaScript)
// Find offshore drilling units near the Netherlands coast
async function getModusInArea() {
const response = await fetch(
`https://api.vesselapi.com/v1/location/modu/bounding-box?` +
new URLSearchParams({
"filter.latBottom": 51.0,
"filter.latTop": 52.0,
"filter.lonLeft": 4.0,
"filter.lonRight": 5.0
}),
{ headers: { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } }
);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(`Found ${data.modus.length} MODUs near the Netherlands coast`);
return data.modus;
}Response Fields
Light Aids
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| name | Name of the light aid |
| feature_number | NGA feature number identifier |
| characteristic | Light flash pattern description (e.g., Fl W 7.5s) |
| range | Nominal range of light in nautical miles |
| structure | Description of the physical structure |
| height_feet_meters | Height of light above water in feet and meters |
| position | Human-readable position description |
| geopolitical_heading | Country or major geographic area |
| location | GeoJSON point for geospatial queries |
DGPS Stations
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| name | Station name |
| station_id | Station identifier code |
| frequency | Broadcast frequency in kHz |
| range | Signal range in nautical miles |
| transfer_rate | Data transfer rate in bits per second |
| position | Human-readable position description |
| geopolitical_heading | Country or major geographic area |
| location | GeoJSON point for geospatial queries |
Radio Beacons
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| name | Name of the radio beacon |
| frequency | Broadcast frequency |
| characteristic | Beacon transmission characteristic |
| range | Signal range in nautical miles |
| sequence_text | Transmission sequence description |
| position | Human-readable position description |
| geopolitical_heading | Country or major geographic area |
| location | GeoJSON point for geospatial queries |
The tables below show the most commonly used fields. Additional fields are available in each response. See the API Explorer for the complete schemas.
Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs)
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| name | Name of the drilling unit |
| rig_status | Current operational status of the rig |
| date | Date of the position report |
| latitude | Geographic latitude in decimal degrees |
| longitude | Geographic longitude in decimal degrees |
| navigation_area | NAVAREA designation |
| distance | Distance from reference point in nautical miles |
| location | GeoJSON point for geospatial queries |
Explore Navigation Data
Try these endpoints interactively in the API Explorer.