Analysing satellite data for finding dark vessels
Oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface making it an enormous area to monitor. All large ships are required to use an automatic identification system (AIS), which broadcasts the vessel’s position continuously to avoid collisions at sea. Satellites pick up this information and relay it to ground stations so even vessels in remote parts of the ocean are tracked.
Starboard Maritime Intelligence
Dr Moritz Lehmann is Senior Scientist with Xerra Earth Observation Institute and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of Waikato. He explains how the Starboard software platform analyses information from satellites to monitor marine vessels and investigate their activities.
Jargon alert:
AIS: automatic identification systems (AIS) are used by ships to automatically provide their positions, identification and additional information to other ships and to coastal authorities.
Questions for discussion:
In what ways does Starboard® Maritime Intelligence help to monitor the activities of maritime vessels?
Why does Starboard choose to use multiple satellites to detect dark vessels?
What myth about satellites does Moritz bust?
Vessels that do not want to be tracked switch off their AIS systems. They ‘go dark’ and are known as dark vessels. Xerra Earth Observation Institute has developed ©Starboard Maritime Intelligence, a software platform that helps countries monitor their national waters for activities like illegal fishing and dark vessels.
This activity uses data from ©Starboard Maritime Intelligence gathered from satellites. It is part of a suite of activities that support the Build a satellite interactive. These activities support students to engage with the science capabilities ‘Gather and interpret data’, ‘Critique evidence’ and ‘Interpret representations’.
Dark vessels satellite mission
Some fishing vessels try to hide in the vast ocean by turning off their location-transmitting devices, fishing where they think no one can see them. They are known as ‘dark vessels’. Satellite and radar technology is being used to protect our oceans from this type of criminal behaviour.
This animated video is part of the Build a satellite interactive. To find out more about using satellites to track dark vessels fishing illegally, see the article How do we find dark fishing vessels on the ocean? then follow up with the activity Analysing satellite data for finding dark vessels.
Consider doing the activity Interpreting observations from satellite images prior to this activity. It introduces strategies that are useful when interpreting satellite images.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
discuss why national and international agencies monitor vessel movements
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using satellites to monitor vessels
use a satellite image to engage with one or more of the science capabilities.
Download the Word file (see link below).
Related content
Find out more about remote sensing and satellites used for Earth observation.
Activity ideas
Grow your skill set. Build a satellite and then analyse data regarding albatross populations and slow slip Earth movements.
Useful links
Visit the Ministry for website for maps of New Zealand fisheries and information about international fisheries management.
Read about the work of Xerra and ©Starboard Maritime Intelligence on their websites.
Watch ©Starboard Maritime Intelligence’s video Uncover hidden maritime activity with Starboard.
news article and video looking the success of Xerra, in detecting up to 100 dark vessels during a Pacific fishing surveillance operation.
Acknowledgement
This resource has been produced with funding from the Ministry of Business, n and Employment and the support of the New Zealand Space Agency.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the New Zealand Space Agency
The New Zealand Space Agency, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, is the lead government agency for space policy, regulation and sector development.
