New satellite technologies have now been developed to monitor the world’s oceans including those sections of the ocean covered with clouds. This has advanced the capability to detect “dark vessels” that switch off their location transponders, otherwise known as automatic identification systems (AIS).These ships faking their locations deliver oil around the word often in violation of US sanctions. For example, revenue generated by the illegal sale of Iranian petroleum products funds illegal activities, including terrorism, according to reports. also, illegal sales of weapons to Russia or to organizations in the middle east are also shipped in the same fashion.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is now focusing on enforcement of United States sanctions in the shipping of such products. Such information can be disclosed as sanction evasions by whistleblowers through the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). Under this program, the whistleblower must voluntarily report original information that leads to a judicial administrative action that imposes penalties exceeding One million dollars. Then the whistleblower can obtain an of 10% to 30% of the collected amount of monetary sanctions. If represented by counsel, a whistleblower can submit information anonymously.
In September 2023, the Department of Justice revealed that it had disrupted a major muti-million dollar shipment of oil by the Islamic revolutionary Guard Corps.(IRGC). Apparently the oil was being covertly transported to a customer abroad and involved ship to ship transfers and false automatic identifications systems. Disclosing sanction evasions can be done by whistleblowers through the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). The whistleblower must voluntarily report original information that leads to a judicial administrative action that imposes penalties exceeding One million dollars. Then the whistleblower can obtain an of 10% to 30% of the collected amount of monetary sanctions. If represented by counsel, a whistleblower can submit information anonymously.
Iceye, a company in Finland, is one company that has developed persistent monitoring with radar imaging satellites. The company has now deployed 31 satellites since 2018. Although 70 percent of the globe is shrouded in clouds, and at any given time about half of the planet is in the dark. Iceye satellites illuminate the ground with microwaves and create images from the energy that is reflected back to the satellite. SAR is superior to traditional electro-optical imaging for monitoring and search applications because it provides a powerful day/night, all-weather imaging capability. This capability is ideally suited for national security, defense and intelligence.
Blacksky is another company that can locate dark vessels. BlackSky’s Spectra AI cloud-based platform analyzes the electro-optical images using artificial intelligence to detect vessels, estimate cargo and monitor change over time. The maritime tracking service also relies on synthetic aperture radar from third-party satellites to supplement visible imagery, as only SAR can peer through clouds and darkness.
China has launched the first of a new series of Haiyang ocean observation satellites. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp says the new high-precision ocean water color observation satellite will target various water bodies around the world using multiple detection methods, providing insights into various environmental and biological processes. It will be able to provide continuous dynamic monitoring of water color, water temperature, sea ice and other variables, to deliver timely remote sensing information.
Jeffrey Newman represents whistleblowers under the SEC, CFTC and FINCEN whistleblower programs. Whistleblowers who provide original information to these agencies through counsel, may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC, CFTC OR FINCEN and the names and identification of the whistleblowers are not revealed. Jeff Newman can be reached at Jeff@Jeffnewmanlaw.com or at 617-823-3217
