This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to establish a pilot program using big data analytics to identify and interdict vessels evading sanctions and export controls by manipulating their tracking systems.
Margaret "Maggie" Hassan
Senator
NH
The Vessel Tracking for Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2025 mandates the Department of Homeland Security to create a pilot program using big data analytics to identify vessels evading sanctions and export controls by manipulating their tracking systems. This program will provide intelligence to domestic and international law enforcement agencies and will analyze various data points, such as the type of goods, destination, and vessel ownership. The program will be assessed after four years, and a report will be submitted to Congress detailing its effectiveness in interdicting high-risk vessels and providing recommendations for future use of big data analytics in sanctions enforcement. No new funds are authorized, and no new data collection is authorized.
Feds Eye Big Data Pilot Program to Catch Ships Disabling Trackers, Evading Sanctions
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to launch a four-year pilot program focused on using big data analytics to identify ships potentially dodging sanctions or export controls. The main target? Vessels suspected of disabling or manipulating their Automatic Identification System (AIS) – essentially, their onboard tracker – to hide illicit activities. The program, housed within the National Targeting Center, needs to be up and running within 18 months of the bill's enactment.
Digital Detectives on Deck
Think of this as using data smarts to spot suspicious behavior on the high seas. The program will sift through various data points specified in the bill, like the type of goods being shipped, the vessel's destination, its ownership details, and critically, its AIS track record. Key questions include: Did the ship 'go dark' by turning off its AIS near a specific location? How long was the system down? Does this happen often? The goal is to connect these dots to flag vessels that might be actively trying to evade detection while violating sanctions.
Who Gets the Intel?
The intelligence gathered isn't meant to sit in a database. The bill requires the pilot program to provide actionable information to DHS components like the Coast Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as other federal law enforcement agencies. It also allows for sharing this intel with relevant agencies in partner foreign countries, though the specifics of which partners aren't detailed. The aim is to translate data analysis into real-world enforcement actions.
Testing the Waters, Not Breaking the Bank
It's crucial to understand this is a test run. The program has a four-year lifespan, after which DHS, along with Commerce, Treasury, and National Intelligence, must report back to Congress on its effectiveness. They'll need to detail successes (interdicted vessels), note instances where flagged ships weren't stopped, and recommend whether this tech approach should be continued. Importantly, Section 2 explicitly states that no additional funds are authorized for this pilot, and it doesn't grant any new authority to collect information beyond what's already legally permitted. It’s about leveraging existing data and tools more effectively.