In early 2025, the San Marino Ship Register (SMSR) noticed troubling irregularities in the AIS data of a re-flagged commercial tanker. These included inconsistent position reports, implausible anchoring patterns, and gaps in movement history, which posed a serious risk to national reputation and regulatory compliance.
Partnering with Pole Star Global, an investigation combining AIS, persistent tracking, and satellite imagery uncovered over 236 days of falsified location data and multiple instances of AIS spoofing.
This case study reveals how advanced maritime intelligence and proactive oversight enabled SMSR to expose covert activities, uphold registry integrity, and support decisive regulatory actions. It is a powerful example of the critical role multi-source data plays in safeguarding maritime operations against illicit use and maintaining trust in international shipping standards.
What You Will Learn:
- How advanced maritime intelligence tools like AIS, persistent tracking technology, and satellite imagery work together to detect vessel spoofing and deceptive behaviours.
- The key indicators and patterns of AIS manipulation used by suspicious actors.
- Real-world insights from the investigation, including detailed evidence of location falsification and route violations.
- The critical role of independent verification in protecting national ship registries and maintaining regulatory compliance.
- How timely detection and actionable intelligence support risk management, intergovernmental reporting, and decisive enforcement actions.
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