specification: API Commons Rate Limits
specificationVersion: '0.1'
schema: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/interface-research/main/schema/api-commons.yml#/$defs/RateLimits
provider: VesselFinder
providerId: vesselfinder
created: '2026-05-25'
modified: '2026-05-25'
reconciled: false
tags:
  - AIS
  - Rate Limiting
  - Credits
description: |
  VesselFinder uses a credit-based quota model rather than per-second rate limiting on the AIS
  API. Each call deducts credits proportional to the requested datasets and the position source
  (terrestrial vs. satellite). The Container Tracking API enforces a per-container subscription
  quota and queues asynchronous requests with a recommended minimum poll interval of 60 seconds.
  Public, exact RPS/RPM limits are not published by VesselFinder; the limits below capture the
  documented quota model and the asynchronous polling guidance.
sources:
  - https://api.vesselfinder.com/docs/
  - https://container.vesselfinder.com/api/1.0/docs
headers: {}
responseCodes:
  throttled: 400
  quotaExceeded: 402
algorithm: credit-bucket
quotas:
  - surface: AIS API
    unit: credit
    pool: per-account
    expiration: 12 months after purchase
    enforcement: Each call deducts credits per method; remaining credits visible via /status.
  - surface: Container Tracking API
    unit: container
    pool: per-account
    expiration: 12 months after purchase
    enforcement: First lookup per container deducts one unit; subsequent lookups within 30 days are free. 402 returned when limit is reached.
asyncPolling:
  - surface: Container Tracking API
    statusCode: 202
    minimumIntervalSeconds: 60
    typicalCompletionSeconds: 60
    maximumCompletionSeconds: 1200
methodCosts:
  - method: vessels (AIS, terrestrial)
    credits: 1
  - method: vessels (AIS, satellite)
    credits: 10
  - method: vessels (voyage extradata)
    credits: 1
  - method: vessels (master extradata)
    credits: 2
  - method: portcalls
    credits: 1-2
  - method: expectedarrivals (AIS)
    credits: 5
  - method: expectedarrivals (voyage)
    credits: 1
  - method: expectedarrivals (master)
    credits: 2
  - method: masterdata
    credits: 3
  - method: distance
    credits: 1
  - method: status
    credits: 0
  - method: listmanager
    credits: 0