Zitat:Unseenlabs Reveals Ships That Vanished From Conventional Geolocation Systems

Since early November, more and more vessels navigating in Chinese waters are disappearing from the tracking systems normally used in maritime transport, likely following the introduction of the new Chinese law on the protection of personal information, which came into effect last 1st November. [...] Although the law does not specifically mention sea freight, maritime companies could be withholding information just to be “on the safe side” while waiting to know exactly what they are allowed to share. The enforcement of this law and the blockage of information are worsening the current shipping crisis and congestion of ports. From 21 to 28 of last November, Unseenlabs made several satellite acquisitions in East China sea to highlight the ships now missing from AIS screens. [...]

Normally vessels can be identified via their AIS transponders, which broadcast the ship’s geolocation as well as other information such as its MMSI number (a unique 9-digit number associated with each ship) type (carrier, tanker, fishing vessel), nationality, course, speed… The AIS identification system was made compulsory for most ships by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to all signatory flag states of the SOLAS convention (Safety of Life at Sea) to facilitate traffic and avoid collisions. But since its implementation wider uses of the system have developed, and it has become an essential tool for port management, by providing information on berth availability and anchorage waiting times among other things. [...]

As a result, most ships are not visible from traditional surveillance systems once they get close to Chinese shores. In this new context, the AIS system doesn’t provide an accurate picture of traffic at sea, as shown in Unseenlabs’ series of satellite acquisitions in that area (space-based radiofrequency signals detection): in the sample below, more than 60% of ships in the area have disappeared from AIS screens.