Navigating in Stealth: The Silent Vessels of the East China Sea

In the vast expanse of the East China Sea, a peculiar phenomenon has been unfolding. A staggering 80% of ships traverse these waters with their transponders switched off, effectively vanishing from the radar and raising significant concerns about maritime safety, security, and environmental practices. This trend is not limited to commercial vessels; recent reports indicate that naval ships from various nations, including Russia and China, have been navigating these strategic waters, sometimes with their AIS transponders deactivated.

The Disappearing Act

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a crucial technology that enables the tracking of vessels worldwide. It’s a safety mechanism mandated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for ships over a certain size, designed to prevent collisions and facilitate maritime traffic. However, recent observations have revealed a troubling trend: a significant portion of ships in the East China Sea are not broadcasting AIS signals. This includes not only merchant ships but also naval vessels, which adds a layer of complexity to the issue. For instance, the Russian intelligence ship Kareliya and Chinese naval ships have been spotted navigating through the East China Sea without broadcasting their AIS signals, as part of strategic military maneuvers.

The Implications of Going Dark

The absence of AIS signals poses several risks. Firstly, it increases the likelihood of maritime accidents. Without AIS data, the precise location, speed, and course of these ships remain unknown to other vessels and maritime authorities, heightening the risk of collisions. This is particularly concerning in the East China Sea, a region with dense maritime traffic and complex navigation routes. The strategic movements of naval vessels, such as the Russian intelligence ship Kareliya and Chinese naval ships, which have been observed navigating through these waters with their AIS transponders deactivated, add to the potential for misunderstandings and maritime incidents.

Secondly, it hampers the ability to monitor maritime traffic effectively. Ports rely on AIS data for efficient management, including berth availability and anchorage waiting times. The lack of AIS signals disrupts this process, leading to potential congestion and inefficiencies in port operations. The situation is exacerbated by the geopolitical tensions in the region, with the East China Sea being a hotbed of territorial disputes, particularly around the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and the Chunxiao gas field. The constant intrusion of Chinese vessels and warships in the EEZ near these disputed areas, often with AIS transponders turned off, complicates the tracking and management of maritime traffic.

The Underlying Reasons

Several factors contribute to this situation. A new Chinese law on the protection of personal information, which requires government approval before transferring data to foreign entities, has led maritime companies to withhold information, likely to avoid legal repercussions.

Moreover, there are strategic reasons for this opacity. Chinese authorities cite national security and sovereignty concerns, suggesting that foreign intelligence agencies use AIS data to track Chinese military vessels and gather sensitive economic intelligence. The recent activities of Russian and Chinese naval vessels in the East China Sea, often with their AIS transponders turned off, underscore the military dimension of this issue. These actions reflect a pattern of maritime operations designed to enhance strategic ambiguity and complicate the surveillance efforts of other nations.

The Environmental Angle

The practice of turning off transponders has significant environmental implications, particularly in the East China Sea. It’s intrinsically linked to overfishing and illegal fishing practices, as vessels that ‘go dark’ can operate without oversight, potentially depleting fish stocks and harming marine ecosystems. This clandestine activity not only threatens the biodiversity of the region but also undermines efforts to manage and conserve marine resources sustainably. Studies have shown that ship emissions contribute significantly to atmospheric pollution, and the impact on air quality can vary regionally, influenced by factors such as the composition of the regional shipping fleet and state of background atmospheric pollution. The East China Sea, with its high shipping density, faces challenges from emissions that affect both air quality and the marine environment.

The Quest for Transparency

To combat these issues, satellite acquisitions and alternative tracking methods are being employed to shed light on the activities of these silent ships. Organizations like Unseenlabs are conducting campaigns to detect radiofrequency signals from vessels, revealing the true extent of maritime traffic in areas where AIS data is missing. Additionally, climate change impacts on China’s marine ecosystems have been documented, with red tide bloom events recorded more frequently in recent decades and ocean acidification leading to increased mortality of marine calcifying organisms. These changes underscore the urgency of enhancing transparency in maritime operations to mitigate environmental damage.