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.

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’.

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).