MARITIME OSINT IN DETAIL
I don’t quite actually know why I love maritime osint, but maybe it is the vulnerability of their systems which grabs my attention so much.
You might have already heard of some tools related to maritime if you are into osint for quite some time. So let’s start with the basics!
VESSELS AND THEIR TRACKING
A ship can be identified through its IMO and MMSI numbers. The IMO Ship Identification Number is a unique seven-digit number which remains unchanged through a vessel’s lifetime and is linked to its hull, regardless of any changes of names, flags, or owners. Unlike IMO, the Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) is a unique 9 digit number, a temporarily assigned UID, that is assigned to an individual vessel for contacting issued by that object’s current flag state. It is entered into DSC radios and AIS units used on that vessel. Some ships for conducting suspicious activities oftentimes spoof their MMSI mid voyage.
Vessels, hmm.. could be cargo, tankers, cruise, yachts, ferry, fishing boats and military ships. The sources to gather data majorly depend on the type of vessel that you are investigating, based on which you will get a whole load of intelligence if collected efficiently and in a systematic manner. Below are some websites, all categorized on the basis of vessel types (note that some sites are meant for the surveillance of all vessel types):
https://hacktoria.com/articles/maritime-osint-in-detail/
