The MARISS project is the first phase of a pan-European activity to demonstrate the utility and value of integrating information derived from satellite Earth Observation with conventional
data streams for improved maritime border control and maritime situation awareness. It is intended to deliver prototype customised information services to national and European government agencies responsible
for preventing illegal activities (such as trafficking of persons, drugs, weapons etc) and characterising new threats to European maritime infrastructure and interests. This includes police, border guards, coast guards,
intelligence services and national navies as well as appropriate European and international agencies.
MARISS focuses on two categories of service:
- tactical (near real time) monitoring to identify and track suspect vessels in open waters before they reach the European coast. This requires integration of satellite synthetic aperture
radar imagery with AIS, VMS, coastal radar and any intelligence data available.
- strategic (longer term) monitoring for threat characterisation. This includes routine monitoring of trafficking routes and detection of suspicious activity in the coastal areas of third countries.
The service is based on the analysis of high resolution satellite imagery combined with intelligence information.
MARISS is supported by the
European Space Agency (ESA) under the Global
Monitoring for Environment Security (GMES)
|