Spire Global has developed a method of detecting vessels through #satellite technology when they have switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices

These vessels become dark ships when not transmitting their identity, position and intended routes via AIS either to terrestrial stations or over satellite communications.

Spire has introduced a solution to identify, locate and #track these vessels, which may have switched off AIS for unlawful activities such as evading sanctions, illegal fishing and human trafficking.

Its global and near real-time, geolocation position validation service can uncover suspicious activity and pinpoint a vessel using various maritime tracking technologies.

Spire Maritime chief executive Peter Mabson said the applications of this solution are important to governments, intelligence and security agencies, and non-profit organisations’ efforts to identify and locate vessels that are breaking international law.

“For a long time, having the tools to accurately identify and track ships that are attempting to hide their activities or location has been the missing key to preventing sanctions evasion, illegal fishing, human trafficking and many more pressing societal issues,” said Mr Mabson.

“Dark shipping detection builds on our breadth of maritime tracking solutions and underscores our mission to use data that can only be collected from space to improve life on Earth.”

AIS on a vessel helps avoid collisions at sea, tracks global shipping trends and monitors individual vessel activity. But crew members on board can manipulate AIS by turning off the transponder to go dark or spoofing AIS to report false positions.

Vessels with AIS switched off can be identified and tracked through their use of VHF radiocommunications and radar transmissions.

A ’dark fleet’ of tankers (aka shadow fleet or subterfuge fleet) consists of vessels involved in transporting sanctioned oil, and the fleet has in recent weeks seen two tanker vessels involved in high-profile, dangerous incidents.

Both vessels were old, and both have had multiple deficiencies in the last 12 months. The VLCC was recently blacklisted by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) because it was involved in the illicit transport of Iranian oil.

In early November, Western governments announced further penalties and restrictions on the oil and tanker trades. 

The US Treasury’s OFAC designated members of what it called "an international oil smuggling network that facilitated oil trades and generated revenue for Hizballah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force".

“The individuals running this illicit network use shell companies and fraudulent tactics including document falsification to obfuscate the origins of Iranian oil, sell it on the international market, and evade sanctions,” US Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E Nelson said.

Among the individuals and companies targeted, prime among them is oil tanker trader Viktor Artemov, and the US Treasury said his "vast, complex and interwoven global network of front companies" are key to facilitating oil trades by the dark fleet.

"Mr Artemov used his companies to buy and sell oil tankers that were then used to transport blended Iranian oil on behalf of the oil smuggling network. Mr Artemov also planned oil sales to Asia-based buyers as of late 2021 with Muhammad Ibrahim Bazzi, a key Hizballah financier who was designated by OFAC in May 2018 for providing material support to Hizballah," the Treasury said.

On 3 November, the Group of 7 wealthy nations and Australia made further arrangements for a cap on Russian crude oil prices that is to begin in line with the onset of sanctions against Russia by G7 members and the European Union, according to a Reuters report.

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union and Australia, agreed that the price cap on Russian crude oil will reportedly set a fixed price on Russian crude oil and products that will be regularly reviewed. The initial price has not been confirmed and, with the price cap on Russian crude due to go into force 5 December 2022, shipping interests are eagerly awaiting further information.

On the same day, the UK Government introduced a ban intended to stop UK vessels and service providers from facilitating seaborne crude oil trades with Russia that fall outside of the G7-agreed price cap on Russian oil and products.

"New legislation announced today will prevent countries from using the UK’s services to transport Russian oil unless it is purchased at or below the oil price cap," a statement from the UK’s Department for Treasury said.

Source: Riviera m

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	Issue 81 of Robban Assafina (Sept./ Oct. 2022)