Airbus and Kpler announce strategic agreement for dark vessel detection

Recently, Airbus and Kpler, a leading provider of global trade intelligence, signed a new contract to deploy a state-of-the-art daily vessel detection service. 

By leveraging Airbus’ SPOT Earth observation satellite, the service will acquire, analyse and deliver a substantial amount of data daily. SPOT imagery provides a 1.5 m resolution with a 60 km swath, offering the precision needed to monitor in real-time vessel movements and maritime activities in ports or at sea, independently of Automatic Identification System (AIS).

To transform raw imagery into actionable intelligence, the project will use advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, with AI algorithms specifically designed to automate the detection of marine vessels.

This agreement represents a significant step forward towards increased transparency by combining Airbus’ high-resolution Earth observation with Kpler’s global AIS network, including terrestrial and satellite AIS receivers and its expertise in industry-leading maritime data analytics.