A new analysis by satellite monitoring company SpaceKnow shows that two large ships, with their tracking systems turned off, appeared around Nord Stream 1 and 2 in the days before the leaks were discovered, the US technology newspaper writes. wired.
The ships were large, one 130 meters long, the other 95 meters.
– We discovered some “dark ships” – ships of significant size that passed through this area, Jerry Gavornicki, managing director of SpaceKnow, tells the newspaper.
– Their radio signals and navigation systems are turned off, so there is no information about their movements. He adds that they tried to hide location information and general information from the world.
Discover 25 ships in total
AIS stands for Automatic Identification System. Large ships are required to install and use AIS. This tracking system was created to help ships navigate and avoid potential collisions with other ships.
When turned on, AIS will broadcast the ship’s name, position, direction, speed, and other information.
SpaceKnow went through 90 days of archived satellite images of the area and discovered 25 large ships that had been passing through the area in the weeks before the eruptions, according to Javornicky.
AIS was operated on 23 of these ships. But two of them didn’t, and these are the ones who passed the area in the days before gas pipeline leaks were discovered.
Many countries investigating gas pipeline leaks believe that Nord Stream 1 and 2 have been shaken by a series of explosions. Russia denied involvement.
The supposed sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines was discovered on September 26.
Photo: Danish Armed Forces
– Easy way to hide
It is relatively rare for ships to turn off AIS, for exampleObserver and university lecturer at Ståle Ulriksen Naval Academy.
Ships that “go dark” are often suspected of poaching, modern slavery, or warships.
– These ships may have been involved in putting things there. Someone did, so these two ships may have placed explosives. But it’s hard to tell, says Ulrichsen.
In a system that monitors AIS, you can go back in time and see who’s there.
– When AIS is turned off, you will not be visible on the map. Then it should be seen on radar, on a satellite, or with eyes close to you. If you want to hide, this is an easy way to do it, says Ulriksen.
Chief Instructor of the Naval Force Ståle Ulriksen at the Naval Academy.
Photo: Naval Academy
– suspecious
Ulriksen says it can raise suspicion when the AIS system is turned off.
– If someone is already following you, it is suspicious that the AIS is turned off. He says it’s not necessarily smart to turn it off, it’s easy to suspect it’s being turned on by something others shouldn’t see.
Ulrichsen says there have been many observations of Russian research ships, civilians and yachts turning off the AIS system.
– Then they appeared in the distance, not knowing what they were doing in the meantime. A large number of these observations have been made. They have turned off the system outside of important places, for example Tjeldbergodden in Nordmøre, where the wires are running.
Send the data to NATO
SpaceKnow has reported the findings to NATO, which is investigating the incidents. Gavornicki says NATO has asked the company for more information.
New satellite images may reinforce suspicions of sabotage.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told Wired that they do not comment on details about the source’s use in the investigation, but says the incident was a “deliberate and irresponsible act of sabotage,” and that they have increased their presence in the Baltic and North Seas.
According to the newspaper, an unnamed source in NATO confirmed that NATO had received SpaceKnow data and said that satellite images may be useful in the investigation.
The supposed sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines was discovered on September 26.
Photo: Danish Armed Forces
Four leaks
At the end of September, four leaks were discovered at Nord Stream 1 and 2, both of which were built to transport gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea.
Acts of sabotage were very quickly suspected, and the European Union and NATO were among those assuming this was the case.
Danish, Swedish and German authorities are investigating the case. The Russians are now conducting their own research on Nord Stream pipelines.
For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that a British naval unit was behind the explosions in the Nord Stream gas pipelines, but it did not provide any evidence.
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