Lloyd’s List Intelligence (LLI) has launched a new capability that combines AIS spoofing detection with satellite imagery to help maritime organisations investigate deceptive vessel activity.
The Satellite Confirmed Spoofing functionality has been added to LLI’s Seasearcher maritime intelligence platform. It automatically uses satellite imagery to validate suspected cases of vessels broadcasting false positions.
The new capability is aimed at compliance, risk and intelligence teams seeking stronger evidence when investigating potentially deceptive shipping practices.
From spoofing detection to satellite confirmation
LLI already uses analytical models to identify potential AIS spoofing. However, the latest functionality adds independent satellite validation to determine whether a vessel’s reported position corresponds with its actual location.
“Deceptive shipping practices have moved well beyond going dark. Vessels seeking to evade scrutiny are broadcasting false positions that look entirely legitimate,” said Arne Staal, Chief Research Officer, Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
“We’ve detected this behaviour for some time, but detection models are by nature probabilistic. We can now take our users from flagging probable spoofing events, to corroborating the event with satellite imagery.”
According to LLI, the additional layer of verification can help compliance teams, insurers and regulators prioritise investigations and assess maritime risk using independently validated information.
The development expands the capabilities of Seasearcher as maritime organisations face increasingly sophisticated methods of manipulating vessel tracking information.
By combining AIS analysis with satellite imagery, LLI aims to distinguish between an inferred spoofing risk and an independently validated event, providing additional evidence for subsequent investigations and compliance decisions.
