
(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) Maritime security is a critical concern for nations with extensive coastlines and strategic waterways, requiring constant innovation to address evolving challenges. From tracking vessel movements to identifying potential threats, advanced technologies and collaborative efforts are reshaping how countries monitor and protect their territorial waters. By integrating cutting-edge satellite systems and grassroots initiatives, modern maritime monitoring programs are enhancing situational awareness and ensuring the safety of vital infrastructure. These developments underscore the importance of combining technology and vigilance to maintain security in complex maritime environments.
Norway is leading Europe in innovative methods for monitoring merchant shipping near its coastline.
Canada's Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has recently launched and deployed NorSat-4, a maritime monitoring microsatellite developed for the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA). As the seventh spacecraft built for NOSA by SFL, NorSat-4 is equipped with a fifth-generation Automatic Identification System (AIS) for ship tracking and a groundbreaking low-light imaging camera.

"NorSat-4 solidifies Norway's leadership in space-based maritime situational awareness through an efficient small satellite program," said SFL director Dr. Robert Zee. "The inclusion of the low-light imaging camera on this mission continues NOSA's tradition of pioneering advanced onboard technology."
The satellite's low-light optical camera enhances the Norwegian Coastal Administration's capability to monitor and track vessels in Arctic territorial waters, complementing the AIS receiver onboard. Some vessels deactivate their AIS transmitters or falsify location and identity data for illicit purposes. The low-light camera, developed by Safran Reosc of France under contract with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, can optically detect ships longer than 30 meters even in Arctic darkness.
Additionally, 24-year-old student Jesper Johnsen Loe has launched MaritimAlarm.no, a website dedicated to tracking civilian Russian ship activity near Norway to identify potential threats to Norwegian infrastructure. The site now also tracks vessels from the "shadow fleet," displaying their movements in real time and triggering alarms based on specific activities. Alerts are issued if a vessel remains within one nautical mile of infrastructure for over an hour, stops transmitting AIS data for more than an hour, or maintains a speed of 2-5 knots for over 30 minutes.
Control Room in Oslo
NorSat-4 will operate in a polar sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 590 kilometers. The new Norwegian satellite will be controlled from the control room at Statsat in Skøyen, Oslo. The satellite will undergo commissioning for a few weeks.
"We will activate one system at a time onboard and download telemetry to check that all values are normal. We’ll ensure the satellite is pointing in the correct direction and then power on the payloads one by one to test them," says Eirik Voje Blindheim, project manager for NorSat-4 at the Norwegian Space Agency.
"Ship monitoring will be prioritized, so the first AIS data from NorSat-4 will likely be available after just a few days," Blindheim adds.
Developed by the Norwegian Space Agency
NorSat-4 was built by Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) in Canada.
The Norwegian Coastal Administration financed the construction of NorSat-4 and owns the AIS receiver onboard. FFI (Norwegian Defence Research Establishment) owns the two technology demonstration payloads onboard.
The Norwegian Space Agency led the development of NorSat-4, which began in 2019.
"NorSat-4 is part of the portfolio of national microsatellites for maritime surveillance, and the Norwegian Space Agency is responsible for maintaining this capability. Older satellites are gradually being phased out, and NorSat-4 is a very important addition to both maintain access to AIS data and test new technologies," says Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Director General of the Norwegian Space Agency.
"Both the low-light camera and the encryption payload will pave the way for new services and more robust space infrastructure. This is critical for the continued development of our national self-reliance in space," Hauglie-Hanssen concludes.
Source: SFL