Russia plans to restrict IMO access to vessel movement and identification data

The Russian authorities want to limit the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s access to data on ship identification through AIS systems.

This is reported by Russian media.

The measure is dictated by the need to protect merchant ships from attacks

The Russian authorities intend to limit the IMO’s access to data on remote identification of ships through AIS systems (allowing the exchange of data on the location and course of ships in real time), LRIT (long-range identification and tracking system) and mandatory systems.

The Russians note that such measures are dictated by “the need to protect merchant ships from acts of illegal interference: targeting of fire weapons, commercial espionage and financial blackmail.”

At the same time, Russia admits that it will not be possible to completely close access to information about the ports of departure and arrival, the route and the cargo being transported, since tracking services have access to information from port, customs and brokerage sources about the volume and cost of cargo. In addition, the market will become less transparent for banks, insurers and traders.

“An alternative could be a delay in data transmission or its encoding on certain sections of the routes,” the Russian Federation suggests.Earlier, USM reported that the Defense Forces hit a tanker of the Russian “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea.