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Mission 06: Marine Traffic Analysis

2026-05-09

Analyze commercial maritime traffic patterns and the security of the AIS tracking protocol.

receivereconlooking glass

Complexity Rating

Receive2/5
Decode2/5
Analysis2/5

System Studied

AIS (Automatic Identification System)

Hardware Requirement

rtlsdr

Software Suite

AIS-catcherOpenCPN

1. Field Methodology: Capture

Simultaneous GMSK reception on the two primary marine VHF AIS channels (161.975/162.025 MHz).

Gear Selection NoteA vertical VHF antenna mounted as high as possible is critical for maximizing range over water.

2. Analysis Workflow: Decode

Parsing AIVDM/AIVDO packets into ship identities, GPS coordinates, and voyage destination data.

Signal Analysis: GMSK Packet Bursts

AIS utilizes Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) to transmit high-speed data bursts in the marine VHF band. This simulation demonstrates the transition from raw RF bursts to parsed navigation coordinates.

AIS-catcher Demodulator
161.975 MHz (CH A)162.025 MHz (CH B)
WAITING FOR GMSK BURSTS
Raw Payload Translation
EVER GIVEN
ARCTIC PRINCESS
SEASPAN ZAMBEZI

3. Findings & Limitations

Like ADS-B, AIS is an unencrypted, unauthenticated protocol that relies on trust; researchers have demonstrated location spoofing risks.

Legal & Ethical Briefing

Monitoring marine safety traffic is a standard practice for shore-based situational awareness and safety.

What to study next

Study marine DSC (Digital Selective Calling) for emergency and tactical vessel communication.

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