A Suspicious Encounter at Sea: How OrbitfyEDGE Detects Subject of Interest (SOI) in Under 7 Minutes

• Date: 27 March 2025 01:44:00 UTC

• Location: ~62km off the East Coast of Malaysia (just outside the official maritime jurisdictional boundary - Territorial seas)

• Processed by Little Place Labs – OrbitfyEDGE VDCM

• Sample Source: Planet SkySat imagery (0.5m GSD resolution)

• Possible Insight Delivery Time: <15 minutes from capture

Incident Background: Suspicious Vessel Proximity Off Malaysia

On 27 March 2025, SkySat satellite imagery captured two large cargo vessels in close proximity, approximately 62 km (official maritime jurisdictional boundary) off Malaysia’s eastern coast at 01:44 hrs UTC. The ships appeared stationary and physically connected, a configuration atypical for routine maritime operations in open water. While ship-to-ship (STS) transfers are legally permissible with proper authorization, their occurrence in this location, outside designated anchorage zones, raises concerns. Recent enforcement actions in the region, including the 2023 detention of VLCCs conducting unauthorized STS transfers (2)(1) and the May 2025 interception of a tin-smuggling vessel (9), highlight Malaysian authorities’ heightened vigilance against illicit maritime activities.

While the intent of the operation remains unclear, such behavior often triggers the need for closer scrutiny, especially in sensitive maritime zones. It is precisely in such grey zones where early detection and real-time reporting make a critical difference.

What does the imagery tell us?

The OrbitfyEDGE Vessel Detection and Classification Model(VDCM) reveals:

• Two large vessels, likely cargo or tankers, are positioned side by side.

• No visible support vessels or infrastructure, suggesting an ad hoc operation.

• No immediate signs of distress (e.g., flares, lifeboats deployed).

• The vessels maintained a close presence in a relatively isolated patch of sea.

• Their maneuvering patterns and proximity to each other raised behavioral flags.

In regulated scenarios, STS transfers require permits and adherence to safety protocols, including notifications to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

🌍 Regional Context: Why This Matters

Malaysia’s waters have seen recurring unauthorized activities:

• October 2023: MMEA detained two VLCCs conducting an illicit STS transfer off Johor, citing missing permits and obstruction of officers 2.

• May 2025: A wooden motorboat smuggling tin sand to Malaysia was intercepted near Lingga Island 9.

• March 2025: Over 250 maritime violations since 2020, including illegal anchoring and cargo transfers, were reported in Sabah, Perak, and Johor 3.

These cases underscore the challenges of manually monitoring vast maritime zones. Traditional methods often fail to detect “dark vessels” that disable AIS transponders to evade tracking 811.

OrbitfyEDGE’s Role: Real-Time Detection and Analysis

Little Place Labs’ OrbitfyEDGE Vessel Detection and Classification Module (VDCM) leverages edge computing to process satellite imagery onboard satellites, slashing detection times from hours to under 7 minutes.

Here’s how it works:

1. Onboard AI Analysis:

   • OrbitfyEDGE’s deep learning models, trained with annotated satellite images, detect vessel presence and classify ship types (e.g., cargo, tanker)

   • The system flags anomalies like unexpected vessel proximity or stationary behavior outside designated zones

2. AIS Cross-Referencing:

   • OrbitfyEDGE integrates AIS data to verify vessel identities and routes

   • Discrepancies as a ship appearing in imagery but not broadcasting an AIS signal, potentially “dark vessel” activity, or AIS spoofing 

3. Alert Generation:

   • Authorities receive geolocated alerts with vessel coordinates, imagery snippets, and AIS status (e.g., “AIS inactive” or “position mismatch”)

Synergy of Satellite Imagery and AIS Data

Satellite imagery alone paints only half the story. AIS data, when layered in, reveals a lot of hidden details.

Combining both sources mitigates blind spots. For example:

• A vessel detected via satellite but missing from AIS may be conducting illicit activities.

• AIS signals showing a ship in one location, while satellite imagery places it elsewhere, indicate spoofing.

What can customers expect?

Customers leveraging OrbitfyEDGE Vessel Detection capabilities can expect to receive detailed, structured reports when potential ship-to-ship (STS) transfer events are detected within their specified Area of Interest (AOI). Here is a sample report for an incident.

These reports also contain a thumbnail snapshot of the observed vessels, clearly marked, allowing for immediate visual verification. Additionally, each detection includes an interactive feature enabling stakeholders to flag the event as 'Suspicious' or 'Not Suspicious', helping agencies build intelligence profiles and refine alert parameters over time. This integrated approach delivers both speed and clarity, empowering decision-makers with actionable insights at sea.

Conclusion: Empowering Authorities with Timely Intelligence

Little Place Labs’ OrbitfyEDGE transforms maritime monitoring by delivering real-time, actionable insights. For the 27 March incident, rapid alerts would allow the MMEA to:

• Dispatch patrol vessels to verify the activity

• Check for permits or signs of distress

• Cross-reference AIS histories to identify spoofing patterns
  

With over 86% precision in ship detection and integration with edge-computing satellites like Sidus Space’s LizzieSat® (1), OrbitfyEDGE enables proactive enforcement-deterring illegal STS transfers, smuggling, and unauthorized anchoring. By closing the gap between data acquisition and response, this technology strengthens maritime security while respecting legitimate shipping operations.

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