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6.02 Copernicus Border Surveillance Service (Maritime) products

Agency responsible
Data group
06. Earth Observation Products
Coast Guard Functions with access
Maritime Customs Activities
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Search and Rescue
Status of implementation
Available
Dissemination channels
Agency web interface
Point(s) of contact
Last reviewed on
Last saved on
Description

Copernicus is a European Union Programme aimed at developing European information services based on satellite Earth Observation (EO) and in-situ (non-space) data. The Copernicus Border Surveillance Service (CBS) aims at supporting the activity of law enforcement and border management authorities in the Member States and Schengen Associate Countries with their efforts to detect and prevent irregular migration and cross border crime as well as contributing to the saving of lives at sea.

Data elements
Services provided (in the maritime domain) Description
Coastal Monitoring

Purpose:

Punctual and ad-hoc imagery analysis reports, vectorised data and imagery of coastal strips (beaches and ports) identified through risk analysis to support the operational assessment of irregular migration and cross-border crime related activities.

Objects of Interest:

  • Vessels, including wooden boats, rubber boats and speed boats, within the AOI
  • Coastal infrastructure (ports, road network, buildings, tents, huts) and activities (makeshift camps; gatherings of people or vehicles
  • Infrastructure which could be utilized for the manufacturing, modification or reparation of boats

Data:

  • Electro-optical satellite imagery
  • SAR imagery

Analysis:

  • Punctual analysis
  • Change detection
  • Activity analysis
  • Determination of departure

Delivery time:

  • Fast delivery: 3 hr
  • Complete Product: 24 hr
Maritime Surveillance of an Area of Interest

Purpose:

Detect, identify and track vessels/craft suspected or having been identified as being used for irregular migration or cross border crime using Earth Observation data combined with In-Situ data provided by open source, and by other platforms and sensors.

 

Objects of Interest:

  • Vessels within the AOI

Data:

  • Electro-optical satellite imagery
  • Vessel reporting systems
  • Open source data
  • In-situ platforms data

Delivery time:

Depending on the data source, instantly for vessel reporting systems in coverage to 1hr after image acquisition for satellite imagery.
Vessel Detection Service

Purpose:

Satellite based vessel detection (SAR) and identification (optical) correlated with collaborative systems (AIS, LRIT)

Objects of interest:

  • Vessels within the AOI

Data:

  • SAR imagery
  • Vessel reporting systems
  • Open source data
  • In-situ platforms data

Delivery time:

1 hr with minimum 1 day planning lead time
Vessel Tracking and Reporting

Purpose:

Tracking of vessels/other craft over high seas suspected or having been identified as being used for irregular migration or cross border crime using reporting systems.

Objects of interest:

  • Vessels legally mandated to carry reporting systems within the AOI

Data:

  • Electro-optical satellite imagery
  • Vessel reporting systems
  • Open source data

Delivery time:

Depending on the data source, instantly for vessel reporting systems in coverage to 1hr after image acquisition for satellite imagery.
Vessel Anomaly Detection

Purpose:

Provision of alerts generated automatically when suspicious vessel behaviour is detected.

Objects of interest:

  • Vessels suspected to be involved in illegal activity

Data:

  • Vessel reporting systems
  • Open source data
  • Maritime data analytics

Delivery time:

  • Instantly for vessel reporting systems in coverage.
Environmental Assessment[1]
 

[1] For information on content refer to dataset 7.5 & 7.6.

Purpose:

Environmental information to support operational planning, decision making processes, and satellite acquisition planning.

 

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Legal basis

Copernicus is a European Union Programme aimed at developing European information services based on satellite Earth Observation and in-situ (non-space) data. The program was established by Regulation (EU) No 377/2014 and is coordinated and managed by the European Commission. Copernicus provides vast amounts of global data from satellites and from ground-based, airborne and seaborne measurement systems are being used to provide information to help service providers, public authorities and other international organisations improve the quality of life for the citizens of Europe. The information services provided are freely and openly accessible to its users, with the exception of the Copernicus Security services. Cooperation of Frontex with the Copernicus programme is stated in Reg (EU) 2019/1896.

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Scope and source of data

The CBS (maritime) offers a global view on maritime related data and information in support of the EBCG’s and other law enforcement agencies’ situational awareness regarding illegal migration and cross-border crime. It also supports the EU efforts to reduce the loss of lives at sea.

The data comes from a variety of institutional (EMSA, EFCA, EU SatCen and Copernicus Space Data Access System), commercial partners and open sources and is aggregated and fused by Frontex. Data sources include space borne sensors, vessel reporting systems, commercial databases and open source, such as media.  

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Technical implementation

The CBS is provided within the framework of EUROSUR Fusion Services.

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Conditions of access

The CBS is accessible by the EBCG and other law enforcement agencies. Access might be restricted depending on the sensitivity and classification of the products.

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