Global maritime domain awareness and vessel analysis
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Arming research analysts with hidden clues to their maritime domain
Global maritime domain awareness and vessel analysis
ReleasesLearn about our latest improvements
Arming research analysts with hidden clues to their maritime domain
Operation TS: Maritime domain awareness exercise
• Register for Operation TS final report
• Daily situation reports
• Watch the interview series
• The Indo Pacific demonstration schedule
• Read the latest news
What is Operation TS?
This collaborative exercise was focused on emerging technology and tools to help combat illegal smuggling at sea with Starboard Maritime Intelligence, S&P Global Market Intelligence, Spire Maritime, and Planet.
Join us and help shape the way we tackle this growing concern.
Watch: Why are we running Operation TS?
Register for updates on the Operation TS wrap-up.
Hosted by Starboard Maritime Intelligence, S&P Global Market Intelligence, Spire Maritime, and Planet.
Situation reports
The team conducted analysis of tanker activity in and around the Malaysian EEZ and South China Sea. The following live situation reports summarise their analysis.
Situation report: 8-9 November 2023 UTC
Analysis of tankers in and around the Malaysian EEZ and South China sea. This report focuses on the smaller area of concern (AOC) off the coast of Malaysia, Eastern Johor.
178 unique vessels with a vessel type of tanker have transmitted AIS positions from inside the 4,250 km² AOC.
At least 6 dark ship to ship transfers identified in optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery.
Operation TS is a collaborative analysis exercise and we are not suggesting that any of these vessels are currently violating compliance or regulations.
Watch: Using SAR and optical for identifying dark ship to ship transfers
VOI: ANGEL
The ANGEL (9176773) an OFAC sanctioned vessel has recent spoofing activity identified in Spire Maritime’s Position Validation data.
The vessel left the AOC on the 28 Oct 2023 to travel north through the South China Sea before returning to the AOC on 7 Nov 2023.
This unusual travel pattern is analysed in Starboard and further potential spoofing behaviour is uncovered when the vessel is not visible in optical imagery.
Watch: Analysing the ANGEL's travel history and potential spoofing
Situation report: 6-7 November 2023 UTC
Analysis of tankers in and around the Malaysian EEZ and South China sea. This report focuses on the smaller area of concern (AOC) off the coast of Malaysia, Eastern Johor.
274 unique vessels with a vessel type of tanker have transmitted AIS positions from inside the 4,250 km² AOC.
3 vessels of interest for further analysis (VOI): RIWA (9017666), SINGAPORE LOYALTY (9322293), and ANGEL (9176773).
Operation TS is a collaborative analysis exercise and we are not suggesting that any of these vessels are currently violating compliance or regulations.
Watch: The Operation TS AOC and VOIs
VOI: RIWA
The RIWA (9017666) is currently IUU listed for unauthorised bunkering activity and has entered the Operation TS AOC.
We explore this vessel’s on and off water networks highlighting that this 31 year old tanker’s departure, from Russian, South Korean, Japanese, or Chinese waters, is highly uncharacteristic for the fleet.
Watch: RIWA's networks and relationships
Situation report: 5 November 2023 UTC
Each day during Operation TS we will analyse tanker activity in and around the Malaysian EEZ and South China sea.
392 unique vessels with a vessel type of tanker have transmitted AIS positions from inside the AOI.
123 tankers reporting on AIS have arrived in the AOI from a foreign port.
2 vessels of interest for further analysis (VOI)
Watch: The Operation TS AOI and ARTEMIS III
VOI: ARTEMIS III
The ARTEMIS III (9102241) was detained along with the OCEAN HERMANA (9286229) on the 24th of October by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The vessels are being investigated for undertaking an oil transfer without a permit and for anchoring without permission.
Based on analysis of satellite imagery and AIS positions it is suspected that for most of this vessel’s time in the Persian Gulf its AIS positions are not accurate and are potentially spoofed.
ARTEMIS III loaded (based on the AIS-reported draft depth) an estimated 1.848 million barrels of light blend crude oil at the T-Jetty of Kharg Island, Iran on 2023-08-25. Credit: TankerTrackers.com.
During this time the vessel was also likely spoofing its location.
Watch: ARTEMIS III potential spoofing
VOI: RIWA
The RIWA (9017666) is currently IUU listed. This vessel was observed conducting unauthorised bunkering activities in the NPFC Convention Area on June 26, 2022. This vessel is not matched to any RFMO registration by Starboard.
The vessel has entered the Operation TS AOI and this travel is outside the vessel’s normal pattern of life.
We will continue to monitor the activity of the RIWA during Operation TS.
Watch: RIWA IUU listed vessel arriving into the AOI
Interview series
Operational use of emerging technology during multilateral maritime monitoring exercises
Watch: The interview with Mat Brown, CRO and hosted by Moritz Lehmann, Senior Oceanographer
Electro Optical imagery for maritime domain awareness, the current and future possibilities
Watch: The interview with Jim Thomason, VP of Product
Emerging company trends in deceptive shipping practices
Watch: The interview with Jérémy Domballe, Subject Matter Expert
How Position Validation is changing the insights into AIS and helping to solve dark vessel detection.
Watch: The interview with Marek Poetzsch, Senior Product Manager
News and articles
Satellite dark vessel detection for maritime domain awareness
‘The detection of vessels at sea that are not self-reporting their position using automated geolocation systems, i.e., dark vessels, poses a particular challenge to maritime domain awareness. Satellites have a unique advantage in dark vessel detection as they can scan larger ocean areas more often than any other surveillance technology. '
Planet imagery in Starboard showing dark vessels undertaking ship to ship transfer activity.
Starboard leveraging Spire’s Real-time AIS and AIS Position Validation to curb IUU fishing
‘Sometimes, vessels do not transmit geolocations in their AIS messages or spoof their location, making it hard to track them. Spire’s recently launched Position Validation product triangulates the location of transmissions using its satellites, so that vessel positions can be estimated, this can be used to uncover potential illegal activity including when vessels fish in zones and EEZs without authorization.’
How a burnt out, abandoned ship reveals the secrets of a shadow tanker network
‘In recent years, south-east Asia has emerged as a transport hub for this sanctioned oil. Tankers carrying oil from Iran, Russia or Venezuela will meet up with other vessels close to the region’s busy shipping lanes and perform ship-to-ship-transfers. The oil in the new vessel will then be rebadged as coming from a legitimate source and be sent off to be sold elsewhere.’
Russia’s shadow fleet - understanding its size, activity and relationships
‘There are multiple estimates as to how many vessels make up the Russian shadow fleet, ranging from 100 to a higher estimate of 600. While an exact number in the shadow fleet would be difficult to determine, there are certain vessels with particular characteristics and patterns that can be used in an assessment of ships likely to be involved in the transfer or movement of Russian oil.’
