AIS Nearby Vessels API in Python: Buenos Aires Radius

An AIS nearby API in Python lists ships inside a nautical-mile radius. On Vessels API that is GET /api/V1/vessels/nearby with header X-API-Key. There is no geofence endpoint. Official fixture: Buenos Aires -34.60, -58.38, radius=30.

Starter is $19.99/mo (2,500 calls) with a 7-day trial. Radius default 50 NM, max 200. MCP: mcp.vessels-api.com.

Request: official Buenos Aires circle

curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  "https://vessels-api.com/api/V1/vessels/nearby?latitude=-34.60&longitude=-58.38&radius=30"

Python: same contract

import os, urllib.request
url = "https://vessels-api.com/api/V1/vessels/nearby?latitude=-34.60&longitude=-58.38&radius=30"
req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"X-API-Key": os.environ["VESSELS_KEY"]})
print(urllib.request.urlopen(req).read().decode())

Response: official nearby fixture (2026-02-09)

{
  "status": 200,
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "center": {"latitude": -34.60, "longitude": -58.38},
    "radius_nm": 30,
    "total": 12,
    "vessels": [
      {
        "mmsi": "258785000",
        "position": {"latitude": -34.603722, "longitude": -58.381592, "timestamp_utc": "2026-02-09T10:30:00Z"},
        "distance_nm": 5.2,
        "speed_knots": 15.5
      }
    ]
  }
}

Go live

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