Open Waters AIS — Claude Code MCP server
This MCP server gives AI assistants live AIS vessel data by MMSI, name, area, or radius. It helps when a coding agent needs current vessel positions without a key.
claude mcp add --transport http ais https://ais.openwaters.io/mcpWhat Open Waters AIS does
Open Waters AIS connects an AI assistant to live AIS data through MCP. It exposes five read-only tools: look up vessels by MMSI or name, list vessels in an area, find vessels near a point or another vessel, and inspect coverage. Basic access requires no sign-in or API key.
The server is available at https://ais.openwaters.io/mcp; in Claude Code, add it with claude mcp add --transport http ais https://ais.openwaters.io/mcp. It also supports Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Cline, Zed, and Windsurf (Devin Desktop). The service is in beta, has no SLA, and coverage varies by location, so results depend on the area being queried.
What it helps with
- look up a vessel by MMSI or name
- list vessels inside a geographic area
- find vessels near a point or another vessel
- check AIS coverage for a location
Example prompts for the agent
- Find the vessel with MMSI
368168720and show its latest details. - Which vessels are currently inside this area? Check AIS coverage nearby.
- Find vessels close to this vessel’s current position.
How to install Open Waters AIS
Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http ais https://ais.openwaters.io/mcpPlatform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add open-waters-ais --url https://ais.openwaters.io/mcpConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"open-waters-ais": {
"url": "https://ais.openwaters.io/mcp"
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"open-waters-ais": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://ais.openwaters.io/mcp"
}
}
}Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http open-waters-ais https://ais.openwaters.io/mcpStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Open Waters AIS
How do I install Open Waters AIS in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add --transport http ais https://ais.openwaters.io/mcp.
What does Open Waters AIS do?
It gives an AI assistant access to live AIS data for vessel searches by MMSI or name, area and proximity queries, plus coverage checks.
Does Open Waters AIS require an API key?
MCP access works without sign-in or a key. An Authorization: Bearer token raises the anonymous limits.
