Enhanced Maritime Monitoring with Copernicus Sentinel-1C and 1D Satellites Using AIS Technology

The Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar satellites, known for their all-weather imagery of Earth’s surface, have been enhanced with the introduction of Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D. These new satellites bring improved capabilities for maritime traffic monitoring by integrating an Automatic Identification System (AIS). Originally developed to prevent ship collisions, AIS has become a crucial tool for tracking vessels, mitigating pollution risks, ensuring safe transport of hazardous goods, and strengthening maritime security. Ships equipped with AIS can broadcast their identities and locations globally via transponders, enabling precise tracking, although vessels choosing not to transmit their position remain invisible within the system, posing challenges for comprehensive monitoring.

The Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D satellites have been specifically designed to carry AIS, expanding on the radar capabilities of their predecessors. Each satellite is equipped with four antennas to capture signals transmitted by ships, providing crucial details such as a vessel’s identity, location, and direction of passage for precise tracking. One notable advantage of this radar-based monitoring is its ability to detect ships even if they are not broadcasting AIS signals. The synthetic aperture radar instrument on each satellite can identify ships as bright spots in the ocean, complementing AIS data to highlight vessels not transmitting their identity and location, potentially indicating illegal activities for further investigation.

The inclusion of AIS on the Sentinel-1 satellites enhances their ability to monitor maritime traffic, indicating ship movements, direction, and speed, supporting efforts to detect illegal activities and prevent collisions. The system’s capability to detect ‘silent’ vessels that do not broadcast AIS signals is particularly valuable for identifying potential illicit behavior at sea. Additionally, Sentinel-1C’s GNSS receivers will be compatible with Galileo, further enhancing the satellite’s tracking and monitoring capabilities in conjunction with AIS.

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