specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: MarineTraffic
providerId: marine-traffic
created: '2026-05-25'
modified: '2026-05-25'
reconciled: true
tags:
  - FinOps
  - Cost Management
  - FOCUS
  - Maritime
  - AIS
description: >-
  FOCUS-aligned FinOps profile for the MarineTraffic AIS Data API. Pricing is
  credit-based — every API service charges N credits per response row or per
  call against a prepaid credit balance. Cost optimization therefore lives in
  three places: row-count discipline (filters / pagination), refresh-interval
  awareness (cache windows), and service substitution (use VI04/VI07 instead of
  polling PS05 for ETAs).
sources:
  - https://servicedocs.marinetraffic.com/
  - https://www.kpler.com/product/maritime/data-services
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: MarineTraffic (Kpler)
serviceCategory: Maritime Data and Analytics
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage-Based
  billingFrequency: Prepaid (credit-based)
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Usage
    - Purchase
    - Credit
    - Adjustment
  primaryUnit: credit
  secondaryUnits:
    - row
    - call
    - vessel_request
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: MarineTraffic AIS Data API
  ServiceCategory: Maritime Data and Analytics
  ProviderName: MarineTraffic
  PublisherName: Kpler
  InvoiceIssuerName: Kpler
  PricingCategory: Usage-Based
  PricingUnit: credit
  BillingCurrency: USD
meters:
  - name: credits_consumed
    unit: credit
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - service_code
      - api_key
      - fleet_id
      - port_id
  - name: rows_returned
    unit: row
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - service_code
      - api_key
  - name: cached_responses
    unit: call
    aggregation: sum
    description: Responses served inside the refresh interval (zero-cost).
    dimensions:
      - service_code
      - api_key
discountModels:
  - name: Refresh-interval caching
    discount: Free re-delivery of the same vessel/port/fleet inside the published refresh window.
  - name: Volume / Enterprise
    discount: Negotiated per-credit price for high-volume customers; contact sales.
  - name: Bundled NMEA / cloud-database
    discount: Enterprise bundles can mix REST API calls with live NMEA streaming or cloud-database access at a blended rate.
unitEconomics:
  - name: Cost per tracked vessel per day
    metric: credits_consumed / unique_vessels_seen
    target: Drive down via PS02/PS04 batch fleet queries (one call, many rows).
  - name: Wasted-cache ratio
    metric: cached_responses / total_requests
    target: Low — repeat calls before refresh elapses indicate over-polling.
  - name: ETA forecast vs raw-position polling
    metric: cost(VI01+VI07) / cost(equivalent PS05 polling)
    target: Use VI01/VI07 for ETA needs — they are far cheaper than minute-by-minute PS05 polling.
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Poll /exportcredits/{api_key} (PU06) regularly and ship the balance to a metric store; it is free.
  - name: Allocation
    description: Issue separate API keys per workload / customer / fleet so credit burn maps to a chargeback dimension.
  - name: Optimization
    description: Batch fleets, respect refresh intervals, prefer predictive services (VI*) over polling.
  - name: Accountability
    description: Set internal soft-budgets per fleet / customer; alert at 70 / 90 / 100 % of credit-balance burn.