Global maritime surveillance with satellite-based AIS

A space based receiving system for signals of the automatic identification system (AIS) will extend the coverage of the existing ground network, which is limited to the coastal zone (30-50 nautical miles) to open seas. With newly available satellite-based AIS receivers, the complete global ocean shipping fleet of about 60,000 ships (AIS Class A) can be tracked. The safe processing and distribution of satellite-based AIS messages to authorized users by a public traffic monitoring centre will contribute to a significantly enhanced maritime safety and security.