by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

Lloyd’s List Intelligence vessel-tracking data found that disruption incidents to Automatic Identification System (AIS) data increased in the Baltic and Barents Seas in the past few months.

The AIS system is a coastal tracking system used to identify ships and their position.

Third parties attempt to interfere with and alter Global Navigation Satellite System receivers on ships affected by the disturbance.

According to intelligence data, the interference involves third parties trying to disrupt and control ships' Global Navigation Satellite System receivers.

While the main targets are areas around Russian ports, the interference also manipulates sailing data for ships calling at neighbouring countries.

“Some vessels calling at the Polish ports of Gdynia and Gdansk are seeing their AIS tracks jump to the Kaliningrad area,” says Lloyd’s List.

Disruptors might fabricate data indicating a ship has a call at a Russian port, potentially triggering unwarranted additional due diligence checks for the vessel.

Such data manipulations create maritime traffic tracking complications that go beyond a fake Russian port call.

“Those reviewing the ship will have to investigate using historical AIS positions to capture the port call, rather than relying on callings data,” says Lloyd’s List Maritime Risk Analyst Bridget Diakun.

How does AIS technology work?

Key information, such as the identity of a vessel, its position and destination, are transmitted to different types of systems by transceivers built on the ship.

These systems include terrestrial, shipborne, and satellite AIS, each playing a specific role in vessel tracking.

AIS has been crucial for vessel tracking, particularly in areas with a high level of traffic. These include ships around ports and in relatively narrow shipping lanes.

Types of AIS data manipulation

The action of manipulating data is called AIS spoofing. This includes broadcasting false information and hiding important data.

First-party spoofing involves the vessel itself transmitting false AIS data, often to evade detection, avoid sanctions, or conceal illicit activities such as smuggling or unauthorised fishing. 

In a second-party spoofing, another entity is involved. This entity could also be another vessel sending false AIS data on behalf of the target vessel, creating "ghost ships," or simulating fleet movements.

Meanwhile, third-party spoofing involves external actors, such as hackers or adversarial nations, manipulating AIS data for political statements, terrorism, or disrupting maritime operations and trade routes.

Recent known incidents of AIS spoofing

One famous incident involved the Palau-flagged tanker Abyss in November 2020. The ship broadcasted AIS data, falsifying its location.

The data further showed that the ship carried out illicit ship-to-ship transfers and suspected dark port calls.

But this was not the only incident in which the Abyss was red-flagged for deceptive activity.

The Abyss attempted to provide fraudulent documentation in 2023 to mask the origin of its cargo. This action led to a US seizure warrant for the cargo.

In 2024, numerous incidents of AIS spoofing were used in container shipping to disguise smuggling activities, particularly in the Singapore Strait.

According to Seatrade Maritime report, vessels involved in these incidents transmitted false AIS data to evade detection while engaging in armed robbery and theft.

Stay ahead with the latest updates! Subscribe to our SeaNews newsletter for the most relevant information.