Deceptive Shipping Practices (DSP) Detection

Turning Behavioral Anomalies into Actionable Intelligence.

The "Shadow Fleet" of 2026 does not hide in the dark; it hides in plain sight using sophisticated electronic and corporate deception. At SanctionedShipping.com, we employ a Behavior-First compliance model. By the time a vessel is officially designated on a sanctions list, its "Digital Fingerprint" has usually been screaming for months. We catch it before you fix it.

1. AIS Spoofing & Identity Tampering

AIS (Automatic Identification System) was designed for safety, but it has become a tool for evasion. We detect the three main types of electronic deception:

  • Location Spoofing (GNSS Manipulation): A vessel broadcasts a "clean" track in international waters while satellite imagery or RF (Radio Frequency) detection proves it is actually loading at a sanctioned terminal.

  • MMSI/IMO "Zombie" Identity: A high-risk vessel "hijacks" the identity of a recently scrapped ship or a known clean vessel to pass through straits and port inspections undetected.

  • Coordinated Behavioral Masking: Two vessels sail in close proximity ("Handshaking") to swap AIS identities, allowing a sanctioned ship to assume a "clean" persona mid-voyage.

2. Dark Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfers

In 2025–2026, Dark STS transfers surged by 129%. These are no longer edge cases; they are the primary method for "blending" sanctioned cargo with legitimate flows.

Our STS Detection Protocol:

  • Loitering Analysis: We flag vessels that loiter in "STS Hotspots" (e.g., Eastern Mediterranean, Gulf of Oman, or Lome) without a documented commercial reason.

  • Draft Sensitivity Verification: We use satellite radar (SAR) to verify if a vessel’s draft has changed after a "dark period," proving a cargo transfer occurred even if AIS was disabled.

  • Network Mapping: We track the "Transfer Chain." If your vessel receives cargo from a ship that recently met with a "Shadow Fleet" tanker, the entire voyage is compromised.

3. The 2026 "Red Flag" Scoring Matrix

Every vessel we vet is assigned a risk score based on the OFAC & IMO 2026 Guidelines. A score above 80 triggers an automatic rejection of the fixture.

Behavioral SignalRisk WeightCompliance ActionAIS Gap (>12 Hours)ModerateMandatory Letter of Protest (LOP) & Explanation"Jump" in PositionExtremeImmediate Rejection (Evidence of Spoofing)Recent ReflaggingHighEnhanced UBO Audit of New RegistryIdentity OverlapExtremeFlagged as "Zombie Vessel"Irregular RoutingModerateForensic Review of Voyage Log vs. AIS Track

4. Why Behavioral Intelligence is Your "Legal Shield"

In 2026, the excuse of "we didn't know the ship was sanctioned" is no longer a valid legal defense. Regulators now look for "Willful Blindness."

By using our DSP Detection services, you demonstrate Maximum Due Diligence. If a vessel you hired is sanctioned after your voyage, our timestamped DSP Reports prove to your bank and regulators that you performed an exhaustive, good-faith audit of the vessel's behavior using the best available technology.

5. Case Study: The "Oceanic" Detection

In January 2026, our system flagged a Handysize bulker for "Identity Masking." On paper, the ship was a 10-year-old clean vessel. Our forensic analysis revealed it was using the MMSI of a ship scrapped in Alang three months prior. We saved our client from a $250,000 banking block and potential OFAC investigation.

Audit Your Fleet’s Behavior

Don't rely on static lists that are weeks out of date. Get a Real-Time Behavioral Risk Score for any vessel in your current or upcoming chartering program.

Contact the DSP Intelligence Desk:

Email: info@sanctionedshipping.com

Subject: Behavioral Audit Request – [IMO Number]