Four tankers falsify AIS positions to hide calls to Russian Black Sea ports

Summary:

Between January and May 2023, four tankers—GINZA, TIVY GOLD, KATSUYAMA and LOURA B—systematically falsified AIS positions in the Black Sea to hide calls to Russian Black Sea ports after oil sanctions came into force. Public data analysis by SkyTruth and Global Fishing Watch shows that while the ships broadcast tracks near Bulgaria and the wider Black Sea, satellite imagery and radar reveal they were actually near ports such as Novorossiysk, Feodosia and Taman in or near the Kerch Strait. The pattern allowed the vessels to appear compliant in public AIS feeds while secretly loading or discharging Russian oil, undermining sanctions enforcement and reducing trust in AIS as a safety and compliance tool.

Reference URL

https://skytruth.org/2023/05/tankers-falsify-ais-tracking-positions-to-hide-entry-into-russian-black-sea-ports/
https://globalfishingwatch.org/article/tankers-falsify-ais-tracking-positions-to-hide-entry-into-russian-black-sea-ports/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKiH7yPGdd/
https://www.academia.edu/144052639/Casting_Light_on_Russia_s_Shadow_Fleet