Since summer 2024, the Finnish Gulf maritime surveillance section has observed a rise in the number of ships moving through the Gulf of Finland without broadcasting positions via the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The AIS system is crucial for collision avoidance and for authorities to track vessel movements. Ilja Iljin, deputy commander of the Finnish Gulf maritime section, noted the increase to about ten AIS deactivations per week, compared to occasional instances before last summer. The phenomenon is likely related to sanctions against Russia, as some vessels appear to deliberately conceal visits to Russian ports. Other explanations include radio frequency interference impacting AIS signals. Although vessels operate in international waters where coastal states have limited authority, Finnish maritime authorities are closely monitoring the situation due to concerns about maritime safety and transparency. This poses a challenge for regional maritime domain awareness and highlights efforts by vessels, possibly Russian-affiliated, to evade tracking in sensitive areas.

Since summer 2024, the Finnish Gulf maritime surveillance section has observed a rise in the number of ships moving through the Gulf of Finland without broadcasting positions via the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The AIS system is crucial for collision avoidance and for authorities to track vessel movements. Ilja Iljin, deputy commander of the Finnish Gulf maritime section, noted the increase to about ten AIS deactivations per week, compared to occasional instances before last summer. The phenomenon is likely related to sanctions against Russia, as some vessels appear to deliberately conceal visits to Russian ports. Other explanations include radio frequency interference impacting AIS signals. Although vessels operate in international waters where coastal states have limited authority, Finnish maritime authorities are closely monitoring the situation due to concerns about maritime safety and transparency. This poses a challenge for regional maritime domain awareness and highlights efforts by vessels, possibly Russian-affiliated, to evade tracking in sensitive areas.