Over 70% of Earth’s surface is covered by oceans, crucial for trade, food resources, and energy production. However, the vastness of the oceans conceals significant activities that often go unnoticed. Recent research has shed light on a mysterious phenomenon: “dark vessels” ships that evade public tracking systems, raising concerns about maritime transparency, safety, and sustainability.
The Automatic Identification System (AIS), a long-standing tool for monitoring ship movements, has proven inadequate in tackling maritime invisibility. A study by Global Fishing Watch, published in Nature, reveals that 72%–76% of industrial fishing vessels and 30% of transport and energy ships avoid AIS, primarily to conceal illegal activities such as unreported fishing, smuggling, and human trafficking.
This lack of visibility creates challenges for enforcing maritime laws, protecting marine ecosystems, and ensuring security at sea. Without robust tracking, illegal practices can continue unchecked, endangering both marine life and global supply chains.
To address this growing issue, researchers have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite technology. Global Fishing Watch utilized AI-powered models to analyze two petabytes of satellite data from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellites. The results were remarkable, with the AI achieving up to 97% accuracy in identifying vessels, 98% for detecting offshore infrastructure, and 90% for pinpointing fishing vessels.
This innovative approach has revealed hidden activities across vast ocean regions, uncovering ships as small as 15 meters. While many of these dark vessels are associated with fishing, the study also highlighted the growing footprint of offshore energy infrastructure.
By 2021, offshore wind turbines accounted for 48% of offshore structures, surpassing oil platforms at 38%. Yet, despite the rise of renewables, oil-related vessels generate five times more maritime traffic than wind energy operations.
The study also underscores the complexities of industrial coexistence in the ocean. Fishing vessels often avoid oil platforms to protect their nets but increase activity near offshore structures that act as artificial reefs, attracting marine life. This delicate balance highlights the need for sustainable management of marine industries.
The findings underscore the urgent need for stronger regulations and advanced monitoring technologies to address the challenge of untracked vessels. AI-driven satellite systems, like those used in the study, are paving the way for better governance and enforcement.
As human activity in the oceans grows, improving monitoring, accountability, and international cooperation is more critical than ever. By uncovering the hidden world of dark vessels, scientists are taking a crucial step toward a future of sustainable and transparent oceans where both industries and ecosystems can thrive.
