Developing the satellite-based AIS monitoring

Maritime line of sight Automatic Identification System (AIS) was originally designed as a collision avoidance tool, however since its early years of implementation the US Coast Guard had been studying feasibility of receiving AIS signals by a space-based receiver unfolding this way the unique long range identification and tracking (LRIT) and global maritime surveillance capabilities of the system.

Source: Softpedia

Tacsat-2 AIS satellite

In 2003 studies conducted at Johns Hopkins University proved the existing feasibilities and already in 2004 the Coast Guard contracted with ORBCOMM Inc., a global satellite data communications company focused on two-way Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications, to develop the capability to receive and process AIS signals by a communications satellite in order to relay the AIS messages via the data channels down to the USCG. Launch by the Department of Defense of the TACSAT-2 satellite equipped with an AIS receiver allowed in 2006 actually to prove the success of the concept.

In 2008, ORBCOMM launched first ever low-earth orbit satellites with the capability to collect AIS data and subsequently built the first commercial satellite network with AIS Data Service.

Source: ORBCOMM

AIS tracks as seen from space

Although ORBCOMM leads the market, it is not the only global AIS Data Service provider.
In 2008, Canadian company COM DEV International, became the first company to launch a space-based AIS nano-satellite designed to receive AIS signals and is currently deploying a full micro-satellite constellation, global ground network and centralized data processing center. As more satellites are launched, data refresh rates continue to improve.

Then in 2009, LuxSpace Sarl, a Luxembourg based company has launched the PathFinder2 satellite and cooperated wth SES ASTRA and REDU Space Services to provide AIS data from all over the world on a daily basis.

In 2009, US-based company SpaceQuest Ltd. launched AprizeSat-3 and AprizeSat-4 with AIS receivers.
In July 2010, SpaceQuest and exactEarth of Canada announced an arrangement whereby data from AprizeSat-3 and AprizeSat-4 would be incorporated into the exactEarth system and made available worldwide as part of their exactAIS™ service.

How AIS satellite scans oceans for the targets

Source: Satnews

AISSat-1 nano-satellite

On July 12, 2010, The Norwegian AISSat-1 satellite was successfully launched into polar orbit by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and Kongsberg Seatex. The purpose of the satellite is to improve surveillance of maritime activities in the High North. AISSat-1 is a nano satellite measuring 20 x 20 x 20 cm. It weighs six kilograms and is shaped like a cube.

On Sep 13, 2011, ORBCOMM representatives confirmed construction and testing of the LuxSpace VesselSat1 AIS satellite completed. The spacecraft has been shipped to the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) launch pad at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh off the Bay of the Bengal for the planned launch later on Oct 12, 2011.

Though AIS itself has already been designed for the LRIT with the support of the INMARSAT services, maritime community and governments has been looking for more powerful tool for monitoring global sea traffic.Times when ship was sailing one route and reporting another, tacitly stopping for maintenance and then adjusting the voyage bunker and ETA figures by reporting false noon-positions and calculated bunker figures are passing way, if not yet gone forever.

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