Vessel Information Filters
Setting/Saving filters and creating alerts
The Filters tab contains a set of filters that allow users to refine Skylight events based on available vessel information. These filters rely on AIS data or vessel information from Global Fishing Watch’s vessel database.
ATTENTION:
- These filters do not apply to dark vessel detections, which, by Skylight’s definition, are vessel detections without associated AIS data.
- AIS data can be configured incorrectly or incompletely.
- In the event of a vessel information mismatch between AIS and Global Fishing Watch data (may happen for vessel type, MMSI, IMO, or vessel flag), filters apply to vessels based on the information provided by AIS data.
Important note on combining filters
Applying multiple values within one filter field will return events from any of those values.
For example: Using the Vessel Nationality filter, applying the values: Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines. Events on the map will be from any of the vessel flagged as Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines.
This is an “or” function. Indonesia or Vietnam or Philippines.
Values across multiple filters will return values matching values in both filters
For example: Using the Vessel Nationality filter, applying the values: Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines; and, Vessel type filter, applying the values Cargo, Tanker. Events on the map will be from any of the vessel flagged as Indonesia, Vietnam, or Philippines and a Cargo or Tanker vessel.
Vessel types
Vessel type is determined by AIS data.The filter will limit events to whichever vessel types are selected. It is often easiest to start with “Select All” and irrelevant vessel types.
The table below summarizes all vessel types captured in the platform. A full list available ship type codes for AIS available here.
Vessel Type |
Description |
Cargo |
All cargo types, including “Reefers” |
Enforcement |
Vessels engaged in military operations, search and rescue, law enforcement vessels, and fishery patrols |
Fishing |
Fishing vessel types |
Passenger |
Passenger vessels (e.g. cruise ships, ferries, etc.) |
Pleasure |
Pleasure craft (e.g. sailing, yachts, etc.) |
Search and Rescue (SAR) |
Search-and-rescue vessels |
Service |
Anti-pollution, dredging, offshore supply, pilot, tender, towing, and tug vessels |
Tanker |
All tanker types |
Other |
Diving, HSC, Medical, NAC, Spare, WIG, and other vessel types classified under Ship |
Unknown |
Vessels not contained in our database or transmitting a vessel type. Fishing vessels, as well as fishing gear often use the “unkown” category. |
Gear Type and Vessel Sub-Type
Gear-Type and Vessel Sub-Type is determined by GFW data.
The filter will limit events to whichever vessel subtypes are selected. It is often easiest to start with “Select All” and irrelevant vessel types.
The table below lists all vessel subtypes that are captured in the platform.
| Bunker | Fishing | Passenger | Specialised Reefer |
| Bunker or Tanker | Fish Factory | Patrol Vessel | Squid Jigger |
| Cargo | Fish Tender | Pole And Line | Submarine |
| Cargo or Reefer | Fixed Gear | Pots And Traps | Supply Vessel |
| Cargo or Tanker | Inconclusive | Purse Seines | Tanker |
| Container Reefer | Non-Fishing | Reefers | Trawlers |
| Dive Vessel | Other | Research | Trollers |
| Dredge Fishing | Other Fishing | Seiners | Tug |
| Dredge Non-Fishing | Other Not Fishing | Seismic Vessel | Tuna Purse Seines |
| Drifting Longlines | Other Purse Seines | Set Gill Nets | Well Boat |
| Driftnets | Other Seines | Set Longlines |
Partner Vessel type
The Partner vessel type is specific to Standard Rendezvous events and intended for use with the Vessel type filter. The combination of the two filters allows you to control rendezvous between specific types of vessels.
The example on the right shows an example with “Cargo” vessel (Vessel Type filter) and “Fishing” (Partner Vessel Type filter). The map results will only show Standard Rendezvous events between a Cargo and Fishing vessel.
Vessel Name
Add individual or multiple names to create a list of vessels. This filter is particularly useful if you have Vessels of Interest or “VOI” Lists that are particularly important to monitor.
The Vessel Name filter utilizes an incomplete/fuzzy match. For example, “Imula” will return any vessel with “imula” in its name.
Vessel Flag
Filtering by vessel flag returns events for vessels according to their Flag Country, Control Country (CC), or Owner Country.
Flag Country is based off the first three digits of the MMSI (Maritime Identification Digits/MID) the vessel is transmitting on AIS. The first three digits of an MMSI number is a code that maps to specific countries.
The Nationality filter allows you to exclude values. For example, if you wish to focus on only foreign vessels, you could “exclude” any vessels from your nation.
You can also filter by “Unknown” nationality for those vessels with MMSI that does not have a valid MID (994008667). A complete list of valid MIDs here.
MMSI
Add individual or multiple MMSIs to create a list of vessels. You can paste from spreadsheets.
IMO
Add individual or multiple IMO numbers to create a list of vessels.
Authorisation List
The table below lists all authorisation lists provided by Global Fishing Watch.
IMPORTANT: Not all lists represent authorisation lists under this filter. For example, the “IUU” list includes vessels that have been sanctioned for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF), as compiled by TMT.
More information about what these lists entail can be found here.
| AUS | ESP | IATTC | IUU | NOR | SEAFO | TMT OTHER |
| CAM | EU | ICCAT | KOR | NPFC | SEISMIC | TMT OTHER OFFICIAL |
| CCAMLR | FFA | IMO | MDG | OPRT | SIOFA | TMT RFMO |
| CCSBT | FRO | IOTC | MYS | PER | SPRFMO | TWN |
| CRUISE | GFCM | ISL | NAFO | RESEARCH PAPER | SPSHIPBASE | USA |
| ECU | GFW_REVIEW | ISSF | NEAFC | RUS | TMT | WCPFC |
Owner Name
This filter limits the display of events to vessels linked to specific owners, based on Global Fishing Watch data. It is very useful to conduct fleet network analysis.
The Vessel Name filter utilizes an incomplete/fuzzy match. For example, “Robert” will return any vessel whose owner name includes “Robert”.
Owner Flag
This filter limits the display of events to vessels whose owners share the same nationality, based on Global Fishing Watch data. It can be useful to conduct fleet network analysis.
The Owner Flag filter allows you to exclude values. For example, if you wish to focus on only foreign-owned vessels, you could “exclude” any vessels from your nation.
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