Space-based RF analytics combines with electro-optical imagery and open source data to examine how Iran is using its tanker fleet to smuggle crude into Syria
Automatic Identification System (AIS) has been one of the primary means for monitoring vessel movement on the oceans. But it has limited scope since vessels engaged in illicit activities can deactivate their AIS beacons any time and thus completely vanish off the map.
Ships can be tracked with satellite imagery and rogue activities detected as we have often seen in the past, but it is difficult to continuously track moving ships with satellites unless one knows exactly where to focus the cameras on. This is where multiple intelligence (Multi-INT) can come handy.
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On March 26, 2020, TankerTrackers.com, an independent commercial crude oil watchdog, analyzed satellite imagery from Planet off the sea near Syria’s Baniyas Refinery to find several Iranian vessels near the designated anchorage.
During the same time, HawkEye 360, a small satellite company pioneering space-based RF analytics, traced the path of a few suspect tankers, showing constant gaps in AIS signals during the voyage.
On the evening of March 25, HawkEye 360 also geolocated VHF channel 16 maritime signals at Syria’s Baniyas Refinery. VHF channel 16 is the international hailing frequency to establish initial contact between two vessels or a vessel and land, such as for port activity. When the signal was captured, AIS records showed no vessels in the vicinity.
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Unique collaboration
HawkEye 360 then collaborated with TankerTrackers.com to examine how Iran might be using its tanker fleet to smuggle large amounts of crude oil through the Mediterranean into Syria for sale. HawkEye 360 ’s analytics supported this first-of-its-kind multiple intelligence (Multi-INT) report which combined commercial RF signal data with the analysis by TankerTrackers.com’s analysis of commercial electro-optical imagery and open source data.
In June 2020, US further enforced sweeping sanctions against Iran, which comes close on the heels of sanctions against a series of tankers and operators for dealing with the Venezuelan government.
This fusion of multiple commercial modalities – geolocated RF signals combined with satellite imagery analysis — produced an unclassified and sharable assessment that could be used by authorities for effective maritime monitoring. This also opens up future opportunities for identifying maritime activity of interest for further investigation, allowing enforcement organizations to focus resources accordingly.
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Not just rogue ships
“Governments and maritime insurers rely on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to monitor vessel traffic, but ships engaged in illicit activities can deactivate their AIS beacons, which makes them seem to vanish off the map,” says John Serafini, CEO and Founder, HawkEye 360. Other problems include malfunctioning equipment or interference that prevents receiving the vessel location,” he adds.
Serafini should know. His company has been involved in filling for maritime vessel information gaps even in normal courses where signaling is bad.
“The HawkEye constellation is able to geolocate a diverse set of radio frequency (RF) signals emitted by ships such as marine radar, VHF radio, satellite communications, and emergency beacons. This broader RF range expands visibility to help locate dark ships and identify anomalous behavior,” Serafini adds.
HawkEye 360 currently has one cluster of three satellites in orbit. The next set of satellites is expected to launch by 2020 end, with additional satellites to be launched in 2021. The growing constellation will increase revisit rates and improve coverage for a variety of marine signals.
