searoute
A python package for generating the shortest sea route between two points on Earth.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to visualize or analyze maritime routes. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and is licensed permissively. High install friction (two non-trivial dependencies) is manageable for projects where route visualization is a core feature. Not suitable for real-time navigation or precise maritime routing.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- High install friction due to dependencies on geojson and networkx, though both are stable.
- Active maintenance with recent releases; last commit 2026-05-17 and 152 repository stars indicate ongoing development.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache-2.0 (permissive) — Apache-2.0 permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; suitable for most projects.
last release 2026-05-17 (89 days) · last repo commit 2026-05-17 · 152 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 85,460 downloads/mo, #13,921 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install searoute
import searoute as sr
origin = [0.3515625, 50.064191736659104]
destination = [117.42187500000001, 39.36827914916014]
route = sr.searoute(origin, destination)
print("{:.1f} {}".format(route.properties['length'], route.properties['units']))- Whether the package handles edge cases (e.g., antipodal points, routes crossing date line) reliably
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for repeated route calculations
- Accuracy of the underlying maritime graph and how frequently it is updated
What it is and what it does
Searoute computes realistic shortest paths across ocean waters between two points on Earth, accounting for land masses by finding the nearest sea point if either endpoint is on land. It returns a GeoJSON LineString Feature with calculated distance and optional port information, designed for visualizing maritime routes rather than for actual ship navigation.
The package uses a graph-based approach with networkx as the default backend (or igraph optionally for performance), and supports customization through user-supplied node and edge networks, passage restrictions (e.g., avoiding the Suez Canal), and preferred port selection via area-based weighting. Distance can be computed in multiple units (kilometers, miles, nautical miles, etc.) and duration estimates are available based on vessel speed.
Use it for
- Generate realistic sea routes for maritime trade flow visualizations and shipping analytics dashboards
- Calculate approximate voyage durations and distances for supply chain planning and logistics simulation
- Build interactive maps showing port-to-port connectivity with customizable passage restrictions
- Analyze maritime chokepoints by computing routes that avoid specific straits or canals
- Create educational visualizations of global shipping patterns and international trade corridors
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to visualize or analyze maritime routes.
The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and is licensed permissively. High install friction (two non-trivial dependencies) is manageable for projects where route visualization is a core feature. Not suitable for real-time navigation or precise maritime routing.
Install
searoute on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction due to dependencies on geojson and networkx, though both are stable. Active maintenance with recent releases; last commit 2026-05-17 and 152 repository stars indicate ongoing development.
License in practice
Apache-2.0 permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; suitable for most projects.
Quickstart
pip install searoute
import searoute as sr
origin = [0.3515625, 50.064191736659104]
destination = [117.42187500000001, 39.36827914916014]
route = sr.searoute(origin, destination)
print("{:.1f} {}".format(route.properties['length'], route.properties['units']))Verify before relying
- Whether the package handles edge cases (e.g., antipodal points, routes crossing date line) reliably
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for repeated route calculations
- Accuracy of the underlying maritime graph and how frequently it is updated
Package facts
| License | Apache-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagesgeojsonnetworkx |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 89 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 85,460 / month, #13,921 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: Customer ServiceIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: EducationIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchIntended Audience :: Telecommunications IndustryLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: searoute-1.6.0.tar.gz
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